Wednesday Night Wasteland
Churches seem to to find it harder these days to get people out to the mid-week prayer meeting.
While the mid-week meeting is not mandated in Scripture, the Bible is clear that one of the essential activities of the church is to gather together to pray.
Notice this foundational description of the early church: ‘And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.’ Acts 2:47.
So the issue is not the day of the week but whether Christians are meeting to pray.
In fact, when you look at the activities of the early church, they seemed to spend much time together praying and studying God’s Word. Perhaps these early saints would wonder why we only meet one night during the week to pray.
Sometimes Sunday may not be the best time for a designated prayer service having regard to the teaching and preaching ministry of a church. In any event, whatever day it takes place, corporate prayer is important.
Given the reality of shift work, ever increasing family pressures and activities, the cares of this world, it is the rare believer who drops everything, and brings the family regularly to church to pray.
While we need to be careful not to judge others unfairly, the time has come for the church to re-dedicate itself to one of its essential ministries: corporate prayer.
Our children will most likely follow the spiritual tempo we set. If they have never learned to place a premium on praying by seeing their parents lead in this area at home and at church, then the future looks grim indeed.
There are many blessings to be had for praying with God’s people. It reinforces the value of prayer and almost always brings immediate encouragement to the heart. Just this week it was a joy to encourage a brother going through a deep family burden before we prayed.
So why not re-prioritise your regular routine and conclude, as Martin Luther did, that you are too busy not to pray (with God’s people).
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Amen brother. Thank you.
I’ve often felt over the years that the “service” part of the “prayer service” is overpowering the “prayer” part.
When considered in the light you just put it in, “prayer meeting” is a crucial time for the church. Thanks for the reminder.