Be Prayerful
One of the petrol stations that we find all around South Africa is BP. The letters actually stand for British Petroleum, and it's one of the biggest oil companies in the world.
But I want to use the BP letters to remind us of some other things this week. To start with, let's remember to be prayerful. Maybe every time you drive past a BP you can be reminded to pray.
The Essential Nature of Prayer
I have spoken a lot about prayer in my devotions over the past months, but I think it's a topic that can always be brought up, because it is such an important part of our Christian lives, and yet it's a part with which we often struggle, or lack consistency.
An old Nazarene magazine I was reading the other day said this in the editorial: "A failure in prayer is a failure in everything. Trees without sap, leaf or fruit are neither beautiful nor profitable. The work of the flesh without the Spirit leaves only the trace of death. We must pray, and continue in prayer, if we are to bring forth fruit to the glory of God. Evan Roberts says, 'Pray and faint not, but pray... You are alone in your room, or in a solitary place, and there you are fighting a prayer battle against the powers of darkness.'"
These are certainly true words. Without prayer, our Christian lives become fruitless. They may have a 'form' of godliness, but they are without spiritual power and fruit.
Living "Prayed Up" Daily
BP. Be prayerful. Be a person whose life is soaked in prayer. There's a story of DL Moody, the great evangelist. He was traveling on a ship when it was caught in a violent storm. The vessel was being battered by massive waves, and everyone aboard believed they were going to sink. All the passengers had gathered below deck to pray together, as people naturally do when facing mortal danger.
One passenger made his way to the upper deck and was amazed to find Mr. Moody standing there alone. He was perfectly calm, gazing out at the wild, churning sea while the storm raged around him. Unlike the others, he wasn't participating in the desperate prayer meeting below.
"Why! Mr. Moody, aren't you down in the prayer meeting?" the man asked in surprise.
In his quiet way, Mr. Moody replied, "Oh! I am prayed up."
I wonder if we are 'prayed up' people, or if we only start praying when storms come.
BP. Be prayerful. Not just in times of difficulty, but always!
