Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during January 2025]

Our title comes from the words of Jesus as recorded by the gospel-writer Luke. At the end of his last supper together with his disciples, Jesus spoke to them about the difficulties ahead. In particular, he addressed Simon Peter.

Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.
Luke 22 v31-32 [NIVUK]

Samuel was the last of the Judges of Israel, prior to the accession of Saul as the nation’s first king. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was a devout woman who was, initially, childless. She resolved to pray about the situation and God answered her prayer.

In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1 v10, 27 [NIVUK]

Samuel grew up to be a Godly leader. He did not agree with the popular demand for a king but he recognised God’s will and conceded leadership of the nation. Here is an extract from his final speech:

As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.
1 Samuel 12 v23a [NIVUK]

Why does prayer seem to be so difficult? So often our minds wander or we resort to reciting the same phrases which soon lose the significance that they once had. We need to recognise that prayer is spiritual warfare, that distraction, forgetfulness and lethargy can be just as effective weapons against effective prayer as is outright hostility.

Daniel lived in a country where prayer was outlawed but he refused to abandon his regular meeting with God.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened towards Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel 6 v10 [NIVUK]

Do we value prayer to the point where we would defy any instruction to desist? Perhaps it would be expedient to be less obvious about our praying – after all, Jesus gave us this advice:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6 v6 [NIVUK]

However, we should not neglect the power and benefits of collective prayer. The Bible has numerous references to groups of people praying together, in praise, in confession or in supplication.^[1] James gave us some more advice:

So you should tell each other about any wrong things that you have done. Then you will be able to pray for each other, so that God makes you well again. When a good person prays to God, God does powerful things.
James 5 v16 [EASY]

Returning to the prayers of Jesus, in John’s account we see these words:

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.
John 17 v20 [NIVUK]

Jesus prayed for us – have you prayed for anybody today?

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References:
[1] examples: 1 Peter 2 v9, Nehemiah 9 v3, 1 Kings 8 v30

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Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections

Link to Index of Bible Passages

Last week’s reflection: Of Thee I Sing
 

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Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys