Dear BPCWA worshipper, The year is coming to an end, and it is apt for us to remind
ourselves of our 2023 theme taken from Eph 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints.” This verse is not just something for the Pastor or church
leaders. As long as you call yourself a Christian, this verse is for you and God is telling
you what He wants your prayer life to be like.

Prayer is expected in every Christian’s life. This statement almost needs not to be
said and certainly should never be disputed by any truly born-again believer. What
do you think of a marriage where the husband and wife don’t speak to each other in
private except when they have to address each other in a public setting? Or where
only one party talks to the other but never vice versa? You’d say – that marriage has
serious problems and is a sham! Rightly so. Yet, it is the same with us with God if we
call ourselves Christians but hardly pray to Him. We may pray in situations where we
“have to”, such as during the Invocation and Pastoral Prayer during the Lord’s Day
Worship Service. But other than those times and the perfunctory giving of thanks
before our meals, do you have a personal prayer life, i.e. a personal communion with
the Lord? When you recite the Lord’s Prayer every week, do you think of it as a prayer
or just a recitation, uttering the words without much thought behind what is said?
Prayer is a personal relationship, fellowship, and communion with God, both in public
and private prayer. I go back to that picture again – a Christian who does not have a
personal prayer life is like a married couple who does not bother to talk to each other
in private or like a child who does not speak to the parent. It is a sign of a deterioration
in the relationship. To put it plainly, it is a sure sign of backsliding in a Christian who
has gone cold and become disinterested in God . . . if he or she is indeed a Christian
in the first place!

Praying always – what a privileged invitation. Our earthly relationships have
limitations in communication. No matter how close a spouse, parent, sibling, or best
friend may be, they are but mere mortals and not omnipresent nor is it reasonable
to expect them to be with us 24×7. Yet, we have a heavenly Father who is
omnipresent and omniscient – who knows and hears and is with us when we pray.
When we are driving or on the bus, we can pray in our hearts and God hears. When
we are at a loss for what to do, we can seek His guidance. When we are sad at heart
and no man can understand, yet our Heavenly Father knows and cares. When our
eyes behold the wonders of His creation, our hearts can lift up to Him in praise. When
we read His Word and understand His truth, we can thank Him as Christ did “I thank
thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from
the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Mt 11:25). Prayer is what
characterised our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s life on earth. He certainly thanked
God before eating, but His prayer life was much more than just that. He often had
overnight communions with the Father. Christ was God on earth, but yet He prayed
much more than any of us did. Christ was the perfect man that pleased the Father.
Let us realise how much we must be engaged in the place of prayer too if we want to
please our Father. Mankind is created to have the privilege to fellowship with God. It
is truly so foolish of man who rather seek man’s friendship instead and stay away
from God.

Praying always – a delight. O child of God, come and taste of this sweetness that is
yours to savour! Don’t content yourself with the husks and dung that the world has
to offer and throw away the time that He has given you on that which will not satisfy
your soul’s thirst and be lost in the rapture of His presence in quiet prayer with Him.
Look forward to the “Sweet Hour of Prayer” which the hymn writer wrote about.
Truly know that sweetness of an hour fleeting by when you spend time with God. Do
you have nothing to say to Him after more than 5 minutes? Do you dread prayer?
And do you speed up praying during the time of prayer so that you can return to
texting or chatting with your friend again? If you do, you need to be willing to admit
that you have a spiritual problem because you do not love spending time with your
God and Saviour. “Praying always” is not meant to be a troublesome command. Take
the command as a welcome invitation to delight and indulge in!

Praying and supplicating. We are called to prayer and supplication, not just prayer.
This part of our memory verse of Ephesians 6:18 is to remind us that prayer is not a
formal, cold, and lifeless communion with God. Supplication speaks of an earnest
seeking and entreating. A prayer time that is enforced out of mere duty has no place
in the life of prayer of the child of God the Heavenly Father. We must ponder and
prepare before we go to God in prayer. And when we become acutely conscious of
how truly dependent we are upon God each moment of the day for all things, we will
pray differently. When we develop a love for His Church, for the brethren, and for
lost souls, we will plead earnestly with God. Above all, when we increase in our love
for our Saviour, we will pray gratefully and affectionately. Let us stir afresh our hearts
and minds from now onwards to approach God with a tender, earnest, and humble
attitude to give thanks and plead for our requests.

In the Spirit. This aspect reminds us of our dependence upon the Holy Spirit even in
prayer. We must not pray in the flesh, i.e. to seek for our wills to be done. Praying
and supplicating in the Spirit is not a mystical and mindless prayer. The Holy Spirit
uses God’s Word to help us to pray. The child of God must submit to the known
principles of God’s Word in prayer. Only such prayer pleases God and obtains His
answers. The Spirit also points us to the glory of God and enables us to praise and
adore God in prayer. So, we must know the Word well for the Spirit to use it to guide
our prayers. Praying in the Spirit also means responding to His conviction of sins and
any disobedience or partial obedience in our lives. Do you carefully seek God to
search your heart before Him in prayer? Prayer changes you when you do. When you
come to experience this Biblical aspect of praying in the Spirit, your prayers will be
very different from a fleshly prayer. You will know a reverence, joy, and carefulness
in prayer that draws you back again and again to commune with God your heavenly
Father.

We will see several reminders about our 2023 theme next week. Until then, may
these reminders here stir us afresh to return to the blessed place of prayer with
enthusiasm and ardour because prayer is indeed devotedness to God.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I
direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Psalm 5:3

Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor