“Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.” – E.M. Bounds

Bounds quote is not a call to drop doing your service for God and spend it all in prayer, but he does imply that even ministry work needs to have the right priority. Ministry work is important work for the Kingdom. We are called to do that. Bounds merely says that our prayers need to precede leading the charge into our ministry work.

I think Bounds made this point because prayer is often given a back seat with respect to everything we do. Prayer meetings in most churches today are poorly attended. Just look at the attention that is given to churches that have a bold and vibrant prayer ministry. They receive the attention because they are the exception, rather than the rule.

During times past when prayer and prayer meetings have been given a high priority by Christians, this has led to sweeping revivals. I have to think there is a correlation here.

But in today’s environment, prayer, if it happens at all, happens after other priorities or wants are met. It is a choice we have made and we have reaped the results of it. There is also a cause and effect relationship between the focus on prayer and the average time that people spend reading and studying scripture. With the massive amount of information and entertainment available today, the Bible is often left on the bookshelf to gather dust. That is where mine was for many years.  There are so many other things that can capture our interest. We put God on hold except on Sundays for an hour or two as a substitute to study of the Bible.  Prayer then is given the same low priority in our lives.  That doesn’t seem to fit with the command of Jesus.

Mark 12:30 (NASB)
30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’

I pray that all Christians would look at their priorities and make sure they are in step with God’s will for us.

Always praying for the glory of God,