The Breath of Life

When people face trials like me, they often turn to prayer only as a last resort. Thomas Carlyle once wrote, “Prayer is and remains that native and deepest impulse of the soul of man.” He was right. Prayer is the soul of religion, the breath of the Christian life. Prayer acknowledges a power not of ourselves, but beyond ourselves.

Abraham Lincoln did not hesitate to admit, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go; my own wisdom and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day.” Men of state, despite their training and wisdom, will never outgrow the need thus acknowledged by the great American leader.

One man was going through an extremely difficult time in his family. It was a crisis of major problems which was directed to arguments, domestic violence, separation and divorce. Finally he said, “I have tried everything I know to get through this critical situation and nothing has worked. It’s the right time to start praying.”

I knew a lady who was fighting a valiant battle with cancer. As people observed the gradual effect on her body and lifestyle, one person said, “Well, they have tried everything else. I guess it’s time to begin praying.” In both of these instances, prayer was seen as a last ditch effort to resolve the problems. Only after all other options were eliminated, did the person decide to pray. It was a desperate “grasping at straws.”

However, prayer is not a conjurer’s magic formula. On the contrary, prayer has its disciplines and its laws. Jesus’ disciples recognized this fact, and entreated the Master to teach them how to pray. They observed him daily. They saw Him rise up early in the morning,

a great while before the break of day, and depart into a solitary place to pray. This was a daily experience for the Master. He did not limit prayer to moments of trial or danger – nor should we.

Instead of prayer being a last resort, it should be the first thing we do. The Lord answers our prayers, and He wants us to come to Him continually with all of our important needs. (1 Thess. 5:17). The Bible tells us to “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God.” Phil. 4:6.

Sometimes we make prayer an obligation.

We pray from a sense of duty, and yawn sleepily as we do so. But prayer is not merely a duty; it is a privilege, an opportunity for friendship with God.

Sincere praying will be accompanied by a daily exemplification of the virtues of Christian living. Prayer and spiritual advancement go hand in hand.

Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He will teach us too—whether it be at daily work, in the din of the busy city street, or alone with our thoughts and meditations.

Such prayer will become an inborn compulsion.

It will rise to the throne of God as the breath of our daily life.
AMEN.

Xavior Rajah Chelliah