Last night I had a dream. A group of people were gathered about me and I was talking to them. It was an ancient setting, much like we see when we look at pictures of the old Greek philosophers and their students. Suddenly an elderly woman appeared and interrupted the conversation with a question, “Is prayer a privilege or a duty?” She then went on to describe how prayer was a privilege not an absolute necessity. Then with a smirk and derision all over her face, she came to stand right in front of me challenging me to say otherwise. That’s when I woke.
It was disturbing in as much as I was not given an opportunity to answer. But the whole thing got me thinking. Yes, it is a privilege to be able to enter the throne room of God through our prayers. It is a privilege to have them presented to God as a sweet aroma. It is a privilege to be able to speak to God. It is a privilege to be able to ask anything. It is a privilege to sit in heavenly places with Jesus Christ. It is a privilege to be able to call myself a child of God. But does that give me the right to say that I do not need to pray? Or I need to pray only in extreme circumstances, when I need something.
One thing about privilege is that it demands responsibility. And one thing about responsibility is that it demands duty. When privileged people ignore their responsibilities it leads to a breakdown in morals and standards. When people with responsibility ignore their duties, it leads to chaos.
We, as believers are privileged. We are called children of God (Romans 8:16), friends of Jesus (John 15:13,15), and temples of the Holy Spirit (1Cor.3:16). What a privilege and what a calling! But this demands responsibility and duty from us. Children respect and are obedient to their parents. Friends have each others backs and are there for each other. Being a temple means we keep the light burning, the doors open, and the hands of our hearts lifted in prayer.
- In 1 Corinthians 3:16 Paul writes, “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” The temple in the Old Testament was the dwelling place of God. The priests had a duty to care for the Temple. The Temple was the central place for praise, worship and of sacrifice. And praise, worship and sacrifice are all acts of prayer which Isaiah articulated:
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Believers are the Temple of God, the place where He has taken up residence in the form of His Holy Spirit. Jesus confirmed that part of our priestly duties, as carers of the Temple, is to pray:
Luke 19:46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Through various Scriptures we are commanded to pray: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 states, “pray without ceasing,” and Philippians 4:6 encourages believers to “pray about everything”. Other verses, such as Luke 18:1, emphasize the need to “pray at all times and not lose heart”.
Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”. To be spiritually alert and to avoid the temptations that are all around us we need to pray.
Colossians 4:2: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”.
Prayer is much more than routine, much more than privilege. It is our responsibility and duty to pray. Without it we do not have much chance of being able to stand in these wicked days.