Month of Prayer

October 2nd, 2024
by Matt Townsend

Month of Prayer began yesterday! I’m so excited for this month because I am fully persuade that a praying church is a growing church.

So let me ask you a question as we begin: What is the number one thing that will take your prayer life from dull and dry, tedious and tiresome, lethargic and lifeless to passionate, fervent, focused, and vibrant?

I’m sure a variety of answers come to mind at this moment. May I suggest the number one ingredient that will ignite your prayer life that is plain and simple … need. The number one thing that will strengthen your prayer time with the Lord is your sense of need for Him. I’m suggesting that your passion and urgency in prayer is directly tied to your sense of need for God and all that He is to you. Let me illustrate …

I heard a story long ago about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the philosopher and said, "O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, "What do you want?” "Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile. Socrates put his strong hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him under the water.

Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. "What do you want"? he asked again. "Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, "O great and wise Socrates.” Socrates pushed him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. "What do you want, young man"? Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, "Knowledge, O wise and wonderful...”

Socrates jammed him under again. Forty seconds passed. Fifty. "What do you want?” "Air!" he screeched. "I need air!" "When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.”

Do we have a sense of need for God like this proud young man had a sense of need for air? If I’m completely honest with myself, I often lack this sense of need in my soul. I’m like the proud young man. I’m over-confident in my own sense of wisdom, intelligence, abilities, aptitude, and competencies. I trust myself and my own wisdom, strength and power way too much.

So, in those moments when God lovingly allows me to fall on my face, He graciously reminds me of my need for Him. That’s when I pray best. That’s when I pray fervently, passionately, and focused. But here’s the thing, my need for the Lord never changes. Only my sense of need fluctuates. So, how do I increase my sense of need for Him? Well … pray! The less I pray, the less I sense my need. The more I pray, the more I sense my need. They feed each other.

So part of our prayer this month must be … “Lord, increase my sense of need for YOU!”

Let’s go together, to the throne of God’s infinite grace, with a deep sense of need for His presence. Watch what He will do in your soul when you go to Him in need.