Let me go another step further.

If prayer is so important, why do so few attend the weekly Prayer Meeting?

I think we (the church) doesnt emphasis it enough. I read the book "New power, new glow" (thats the translation of the name in the swedish version, might be differnent in original) where the pastor of the Brooklyn tabernacle church started the work. It says that his was a smal and shrinking church til God told Him to place major emphasis on prayer. The pastor told his churchmembers that from that on, how active or large the church was wouldnt be counted at the sunday service (yes, its not an sda church) but on attendance on the tuesday night prayermeeting. Since then they have had to change church building at least twise since they grow to large for the old ones.

/Thomas

Maybe that is what our SDA pastors also need to do.

Conversing with Jesus my best Friend is more important than breathing.

As I was reading through the posts submitted on this topic it was noticed that a very important principle of prayer seemed to be missing.

Yes, it is important to pray to God and to tell Him of all our joys, troubles and needs, but how many of us give God "equal time" by quietly listening for Him to "talk" to us?

How many of us can actually discern the "voice of God" as He imparts His Will to us?

Prayer is a "two-way" communication between the Creator and His Creation.

If we just consider that prayer is simply an opportunity for us to express ourselves to God then we are only gaining half a blessing....if any blessing at all.

Why do so few people attend prayer services or even actively practice personal prayer time?

Perhaps they have tired of the "one-sidedness" of the act of praying. Perhaps they feel that they are only talking to themselves.....

Perhaps they do not take the time to "listen" for the voice of God.

If we are to consider ourselves "friends of God" then we must be able to recognize His voice. We must "know" Him and be "known" by Him.

Our prayer meetings were sparsely attended 20 years ago, and they're sparsely attended now.

The reasons I keep hearing for not coming are "I'm too busy"...."We hate to bring our young kids to that, because they misbehave, and we can't always get a baby sitter"...."I'm too tired after working all day"...."I come to church on sabbath, isn't that enough?"....and on and on.

Yet the people who do manage to make it to prayer meeting seem to be able to do it week after week, month after month, in spite of all these seemingly 'huge' obstacles that keep others away.

Ellen White wrote,

"A prayer-meeting will always tell the true interest of the churchmembers in spiritual and eternal things. The prayer-meeting is as the pulse to the body; it denotes the true spiritual condition of the church. A lifeless, backslidden church has no relish for the prayermeetings."
{Pamphlet 152 p. 7 para. 1} (1897)

"The empty seats in our prayer meetings testify that Christians do not realize the claims of God upon them; they do not realize their duty to make these meetings interesting and successful. They go over a monotonous, wearisome round, and return home unrefreshed, unblessed."
{GW92 427.5}

"Prayer meetings are neglected, while concerts, singing schools, and various entertainments are faithfully patronized. 'It's only a prayer meeting,' is often repeated by church members; I can not call them Christians. [Wow!] Exciting popular lectures will interest the church members and call them out, when the prayer meeting has no attraction for them. This reveals the true spiritual condition of the church. God is not pleased with this state of things. Spiritual and eternal things are not appreciated, while temporal matters are exalted above things of eternal interest."
{Pamphlet 152 p. 6 para. 2} (1897)

"Those who are really seeking for communion with God, will be seen in the prayer-meeting, faithful to do their duty, and earnest and anxious to reap all the benefits they can gain. They will improve every opportunity of placing themselves where they can receive the rays of light from heaven."
{The Southern Review 06-25-03 para. 05}

So it appears that the main reason for lack of attendance at the midweek meeting is the listless, Laodicean condition of the church at present. And that's a shame.

I find that the Wednesday night prayer meeting, or the Friday night Bible study we have here, can be as as great a blessing as the regular sabbath services. Greater, in some respects. Why is that, you might ask? It's because at these extra meetings, the people in attendance are normally those who are seeking the Lord with greater fervor than many of those who show up for the regular weekly services. There's more opportunity for interaction between people, more chance to speak up about what you think or to ask questions, and to hear a variety of other people's ideas. To find out more about their particular needs, so we can pray about them more particularly. That doesn't happen as much in sabbath school and church.

These meetings other than sabbath services help me to 'keep the battery charged' throughout the week, and to get better acquainted with members of our church family. I hope the time never comes (this side of the Time of Trouble) when we don't have them, or when I feel no need to go.

Psa 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

quote:

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Prayer is the breath of the soul, the channel of all blessings.
Our High Calling Page - 127

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Just like we cannot go very long without breathing we cannot go without prayer.

Also, seven days without prayer makes one weak.

Dear Daryl,

I found this prayer in my Mother's Bible after she had passed away. I would like to share it.

My Mother

Lord Jesus, Thou hast known
A Mother's love and tender care
And Thou wilt hear
While for my own
Mother, most dear
I make this special prayer.

Protect her life, I pray
Who gave the gift of life to me.
And may she know
From day to day
The deepening glow of joy
That comes from Thee.

As once upon her breast
Fearless and well content I lay.
So let her heart
On Thee at rest
Feel fear depart
And trouble fade away.

Ah, hold her by the hand
As once her hand held mine.
And tho she may
Not understand
Life's winding way
Lead her in peace divine.

I cannot pay my debt
For all the love she has given,
But Thou, love's Lord
Wilt not forget
Her due reward---
Bless her-' I pray today

Henry Van Dyke

Happy Mothers Day R.A.

I find a lot of younger Adventist (do not ask me to define younger) are embaressed to pray or ask for prayer. It seems like they see it as a sign of weakness or need - something the world teaches aganst these days. I work with the Pathfinders and young adoult age group, so this is the only source I have at the moment.