The secret to Pray

Often times we struggle to pray. It is common to find low attendance at prayer meetings and high participation in fellowship events (in Malaysia). We have often heard that the Koreans are very fervant and diligent in praying. They have prayer meetings all the time: dawn prayer meeting, wednesday service. Their churches have special rooms and meeting halls specially dedicated to prayer. They have prayer chain that goes on 24/7. They have prayer mountains where people spend days praying. The Pastor at BuPyoung Methodist Church says that we must pray continually; meaning that we must get tired of praying. As we consider the Korean church and its dedication to prayer, we are challenge to ask the question: what makes them to be so different than us? What is their secret? Why do they pray so much?

In Korean the people who champion prayer are people who have been profoundly effected by the power of prayer. Literally, their lives changed because they or someone else prayed for them. Pastor Cho Yonggi Yi for example was healed from sickness because of prayer. Today, we heard a story of a missionary who work among the Lepers in Phillipians. He explained to the congregation that when he was in high school, God healed him from a dreadful disease. And as a result to that he gave his life to serve God. These are the people who believe in prayer: those who have been impacted by prayer.

If you ask the Senior Pastor of the Methodist church in BuPyoung the question about the secret of prayer, he will give you one answer: the Holy Spirit. Yesterday morning in the dawn prayer meeting, the congregation leader at the service prayed: 'Lord Holy Spirit. Come and lead us to pray. Use us a vessel to pray. Prayer through us.' In humility they stand before God and avail themselves to pray. Is it any wonder why God uses them?

This morning, i stayed back a little longer to pray at the Dawn Prayer Meeting. Some where along the way, i realised that time no longer matters when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to pray. I realised that people began to cry and weep as they gave the Holy Spirit liberity to pray through them and in them. This is very scriptural. Just turn to Jude 20 and you will see God's instruction concerning this matter.

I felt God was saying that He wants to use each one of us to pray, if only we avail ourselves to Him.

I want to thank God for giving us this opportunity to come to Korea and especially to BuPyong Methodist Church. I think one has to come to a place like this to catch a vision to pray. When the disciples saw Jesus' prayer life, they responded by saying, 'teach us to pray.' One learns about prayer by seeing others praying. So often, we hear the comment that as believers we should pray, but how often do we see examples of men and women praying? I too am guilt of this.