I wonder why it is that so many of us find prayer for wider topics so difficult? It is certainly not beyond our capacity, but perhaps it is rather the case that in these days of alternative media and disturbing headlines, we sometimes feel so overwhelmed with bad news that we want to pull the shutters down, and make our own world feel smaller and safer.

Or perhaps we make a mental split between the secular and the sacred, and therefore don’t see that God desires to hear our prayers for and about everything, from the state of tropical forests to the war in Ukraine, to the people who gather the rubbish collecting in our oceans.

Maybe we feel that our contributions are just a tiny little drop, and too poor to make any difference. But I have had a few occasions over the years when I have been astonished to hear the Lord reminding me that, ‘You haven’t prayed for such and such today.’ Which rather took me by surprise! ‘Gosh, You mean that You have actually been hearing my piffling little efforts to pray? Enough to bother reminding me? Wow!’

It is a glorious, if backhanded, comment on just how powerful our prayers are from a heavenly perspective! But remember this: the powers of darkness do all they possibly can to distract us from it, including accusing us of being too unworthy to pray. Why? Because they have had millennia of being bashed and battered by prayer, and they know how effective it is. May we not demean the Lord by doubting it!

‘Pray in the Spirit always’ (on all occasions),’ writes Paul, in his brilliant call to spiritual warfare,

‘. . . with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying on every fitting occasion in the Spirit, and be always on the alert to seize opportunities for doing so, with unwearied persistence and entreaty on behalf of all God’s people. (Eph. 6:18)

That word ‘always’ is challenging! While English makes do with just the one word, the Greek needs three: en panti kairo. En means ‘at,’ panti ‘all,’ and kairo, as you know, time, season, juncture or occasion.

Some years ago I encouraged us to greet each other not just with a run-of-the-mill ‘hello!’ but with a hale and hearty Pantete chairete! Rejoice in the Lord always! (Do remind yourself if you have forgotten.)

I would like to encourage us to do something similar with this ‘pan’ phrase, because it is so good to be reminded and to ask for prayer when we are flagging. I am sure you will have noticed the difference it makes when someone is praying for you: you go from being stuck and stranded, to moving forward again. Even the briefest of arrow prayers to our sovereign Lord can be enough to change the course of events.

That said, arrow prayers are certainly not the only ‘kind of prayer and request!’ And while we pray whenever and wherever we possibly can, it is also important to sense the kind of prayer is the most appropriate in any given situation. Is it a prayer of yielding that is called for, or a prayer of petition, or one of authority? Sometimes a simple request is not enough, and a specific word of authority is necessary to bring about change.

I love Suzanne Pilling’s testimony on this front – she was a horse-riding instructor from Oxfordshire, whom God has subsequently used in remarkable ways in extensive missionary work in developing countries. The secret she soon learned was to refuse to limit God and to pray prayers of authority.

Her first overseas work was in Malawi. Despite being poorly when she was preaching, she saw many people accept Jesus into their hearts, and receive His healing in their bodies. From there she went to preach the gospel on the Mozambique border. She was somewhat disappointed when fewer than twenty-five people showed up at the meeting.

‘Don’t limit God!’ she reminded herself, for that was the phrase the Lord had been burning on her heart for the past few weeks. She was somewhat prepared, therefore, when the Lord said to her, ‘Invite them to bring the sickest person in the village to the evening meeting. Let them come and watch Jesus heal them.’

That night the church was packed as the villagers brought someone along who had not been out of bed for two years and who could neither stand nor walk. ‘Sickness, leave in Jesus’ Name,’ Suzanne commanded. ‘Body, be healed in Jesus’ Name. Strength, come back in Jesus’ Name. In the Name of Jesus stand up!’

The lady stood to her feet and walked. ‘Now,’ Suzanne commanded, ‘in the Name of Jesus, run down the aisle and back again!’ The lady looked at Suzanne in horror. ‘In Jesus’ Name you can do it,’ she reassured her. The lady took off and ran down the aisle and back again.

As a result of seeing this miraculous healing, all the people present became Christians, and continued worshipping the Lord until three o’clock in the morning.

The following day two deaf and mute girls received Jesus into their lives and were also miraculously healed. They are now learning to speak.

None of these events would have come about had Suzanne settled for the self-evident ‘fact’ that African villagers do not turn out en masse to listen to little known visiting female evangelists. It was because she listened to the Still Small Voice that the Lord Jesus was so immensely glorified. Imagine how grateful you would be if you had been that sick person, and someone had come along with the spiritual authority to make you better. That is how important this theme of listening to the Lord really is.

Beyond the miracles themselves, God has a message for the Church. The Lord showed Suzanne that we in the West are limiting Him by our unbelief, our lack of prayer and by putting other things before Christ.

In a vision, she saw Judas Iscariot receiving the thirty pieces of silver. At that moment, he loved the silver more than Jesus. Too many of us today love our money more than Jesus, and our homes, holidays, jobs, promotions, sport and lifestyles. Some of us even love our ministries more than Jesus. All of this hinders the Lord from moving in revival power. The Lord told Suzanne, therefore, to call God’s people to repentance.

Everywhere she goes, she preaches this message. Entire congregations have come to repentance, often with tears. The depth of our repentance will vitally determine how far the Lord can take us as individuals and as fellowships. As we yield our lives and agendas to Him, the word of the Lord comes and He is free to move in power. With less of us and more of Him, it makes things so much easier for Him!

(Taken from https://ruachministries.co.uk/do-not-limit-god/)

Many of us think of prayer as an inner dialogue with the Lord, an expression of our continuing relationship. As Suzanne demonstrated, there is more to it than that! Nevertheless, the inner conversation is an important part of the adventure of belonging to Him, and He loves to direct and lead us in it. But if I allow it to fade into the background and even silence, well, that affects my whole life, including the ability to pray with others.

Every time Christians meet, we share matters that are worth praying about together, so that ‘ordinary’ fellowship can become a real encounter with the Lord. It’s so simple in theory! But we will all have heard – and prayed – prayers that come from mixed motives, which dictate to Him our expectations, or which are so caught up with our immediate circumstances that we forget altogether to pray for wider matters. Perhaps, too, we are not really ready to fully surrender to Him, and to how He might answer us. But when we are able to pray with unity of heart between us, even with diversity of opinions, there is something so precious and powerful.

Pray for the Church. Pray that the Body of Christ will mature and grow in wakeful and focussed discernment and prayer. Pray that we will withstand the sifting and shaking of these days. Pray for the watchmen and intercessors.

Lord God, raise up altars of prayer and praying people. Raise up alert and wakeful churches who are sensitive to You. Teach us to be bold and persistent in prayer, and to run in our calling. Help us to keep holding one another’s arms up, and to know the heavenly host is there too cheering us on even if we feel insignificant. The battle is Yours! Fan our little coals into fire, we pray!

Give us Your eyes to see and Your wisdom and discernment. Stir our hearts so that we respond to the merest whisper of the Holy Spirit. Let us, Your people, be willing in the day of battle.

May Your people resist the spirit of fear that consumes many, so that people will see and know that You exist and You are all and everything we need. We long to be a praying people who will faithfully raise up altars of prayer and play our part in seeing a mighty harvest come in for Your glory and delight.

Awake, people of God, ‘blow the trumpet in Zion’. May we not keep silent. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done here on earth as in heaven.

En panti kairo. Pantete chairete!