By JÜRGEN BÜHLERAthlete(photo credit: Thinkstock)
The recent Olympics Games in London contained many dramatic moments, and none were more exciting than the sprint races in track-and-field. They serve as reminders of a key spiritual principle taught to us by the Apostle Paul concerning our devotional and prayer life as Christians.Purpose in prayer Paul explained that his own ministry was characterized by purpose and vision. “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26).The Greek word for uncertainty (adelos) describes somebody running a race without a fixed goal or purpose. If we have no fixed goal ahead of us, we are in danger of merely beating the air and our prayers accomplish little. The Olympic sprinters had a clear goal – to be the first to reach the finish line.Jesus teaches us that believers united in prayer can transform the most difficult situation. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).So as we pray, we need to do so with purpose and a clear strategy in mind.Power in prayer Prayer is also a powerful agent of change. Doors which seem to be closed can open, necessary resources are released, and needed expansion takes place if we draw near to God. Lingering needs, the lack of growth, or waning influence can often be traced back to an absence of prayer. “You do not have because you do not ask,” says James 4:6.Jesus challenges us to ask the Lord of the harvest to provide the means to bring in the harvest (Matthew 9:38). We need to dedicate ourselves to spending more time in prayer. There are Christian supporters of Israel all across the globe. What a power this represents if we agree in prayer.Persistence in prayer Working for and defending Israel often allows us no rest as her enemies are relentless and new challenges crop up daily. But we should never blame a busy schedule for our lack of prayer.Martin Luther once said that if he had a busy day ahead he actually needed to spend more time in prayer.Jesus also gives us the example of regularly withdrawing – often late into the night or well before sunrise – to converse with the Father. Let us not grow weary in these busy days to find time to commune with our God, just as Jesus did. We must dedicate certain times each day to prayer, especially for Israel.Perception in prayer Finally, we need the “mind of Christ” as we pray (1 Corinthians 2:16), and here is the good news! As we draw close to Him, we are transformed and we start thinking like He thinks, and perceiving the world around us like He does. The mind of Christ has more to do with understanding who God is than the specific details of our prayers.David overcame Goliath not by using heavy armor, but by realizing he served an all-powerful God. His victory was based on a childlike faith. Saul and the other Israelites were more impressed by Goliath than by the God of Israel. But not David! He knew he served a mighty God.Together, let us also carry out great exploits as we all draw closer to God! • Dr. Bühler serves as executive director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; www.icej.org
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