There is a great disease going around our world today, and the disease is like a pandemic, paralysing and killing many Christians in our world today. That disease is called SLOP-Severe Lack Of Prayer. It is said that a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. And a prayerful Christian is a powerful Christian. According to Catholic Encyclopedia, Prayer is “An act of the virtue of religion which consists in asking proper gifts or graces from God. In a more general sense it is the application of the mind to Divine things, not merely to acquire a knowledge of them but to make use of such knowledge as a means of union with God. This may be done by acts of praise and thanksgiving, but petition is the principal act of prayer.”
So here we can talk about three elements of prayer, namely, Praise, Thanksgiving and Petition. In the Sacred Scriptures, various phrases are known to have been used to refer to prayer. These include but not limited: to call up (Genesis 4:26); to intercede (Job 22:10); to mediate (Isaiah 53:10); to consult (1 Samuel 28:6); to beseech (Exodus 32:11); and, very commonly, to cry out to God. According to St. John Damascene, “prayer is the elevation of the mind to God with a view to asking proper things from Him.” For St. Gregory of Nyssa, prayer is the act of “communing and conversing with God. “Prayer is talking with God” says St. John Chrysostom.
It is therefore the expression of our desires to God whether for ourselves or others. This expression is not intended to instruct or direct God on what to do, but to appeal to His goodness for the things we need; and the appeal is necessary, not because He is ignorant of our needs or sentiments, but to give definite form to our desires, to concentrate our whole attention on what we have to recommend to Him, to help us appreciate our close personal relation with Him. Romans 8:26 says “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” To whom therefore should we pray? We pray to God the Father through Jesus Christ his Only begotten Son in the Holy Spirit. Hence, there cannot be prayer without the invocation of the Holy Trinity. Prayer holds a central place in Christian life, serving as a means of communication with God and a vital expression of faith.
Its importance in the life of a Christian is many but we take a few here:
1.Relationship with God
Prayer fosters a personal relationship with God. It allows believers to speak to God, share their thoughts, struggles, and joys, and listen for His guidance and presence.
2. Expression of Faith
Through prayer, Christians demonstrate trust in God’s power, wisdom, and love. It is an act of surrender, acknowledging God’s sovereignty in their lives.
3. Spiritual Growth
Prayer encourages spiritual maturity by deepening one’s connection with God. It leads to increased understanding of His will and helps believers align their lives with biblical principles.
4. Seeking Guidance and Strength
Christians turn to prayer for direction in making decisions, overcoming challenges, and finding peace during trials. It provides comfort, strength, and hope in times of uncertainty. Hence, prayer does not change God. It ought to change us grafting us into His will and commands.
5. Confession and Forgiveness
Prayer is a means of confessing sins and seeking God’s forgiveness, which is central to Christian repentance and renewal of the soul.
6. Intercession for Others
Through intercessory prayer, Christians can pray for the needs of others, contributing to the well-being of the community and fostering compassion and unity among believers.
7. Worship and Gratitude
Prayer is also an act of worship, offering praise and thanksgiving to God for His goodness, grace, and blessings. It shifts the focus from worldly concerns to divine priorities. This is why we have to assess our reasons for praying. Is it solely material or spiritual? Matthew 6:33 In essence, prayer is foundational to Christian life as it nurtures intimacy with God, strengthens faith, and guides believers in living according to God’s will. Meanwhile, it is important, as Christians, NOT to see prayer as a spare tyre that we have to run to when the vehicle of lives seems deflated and we are not able to move.
That is why St. Paul admonished the people of Thessalonika thus: “pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:17). In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus told a parable to his disciples as evident in the introduction of St. Luke 18:1, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” You can read the parable when you get home.
SLOP-Severe Lack of Prayer
A ship without a compass is a danger to itself and other ships in the high sea. The name of such ship is derelict ship. So also is every Christian that lacks the virtue of prayer. He or she becomes a danger to himself or herself and indeed to others. Do not be such a Christian! May the Lord bless his holy word in our hearts through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
