Today is the national day of prayer in the United States of America. As a nation, we don’t talk about prayer much, but this is the one day of the year where it will be part of the national dialogue. I feel led to share a message with you about prayer. I will begin at the beginning. In Genesis 1:26, the Bible says, “Then God (Elohim, the Creator God) said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Allow me to highlight a few things from this verse. Let’s focus in on the words, “Let them rule.” This is where God established the relationship between Himself (in heaven) and man (in the earth). God placed man (humankind) in the earth to dominate and rule it. Let’s ‘pull the string’ on this point a little:
- God gave man (humankind) the legal right and authority to operate in the earth.
- Man became the legal steward of the earth domain.
- Man is a spirit, he possesses a soul, and he lives within a physical body (while he is in the earth). Man’s physical body is his connection to the earth realm.
- Before Adam committed sin, he had God’s Spirit IN him. Adam’s body was his connection to the earth domain. The Holy Spirit IN Adam was his connection to God’s spirit domain (heaven). I should mention that when Adam sinned he died spiritually. The Holy Spirit was removed from man. The Holy Spirit came upon man in the Old Testament, but he did not live INSIDE of man like He did inside of Adam, until Jesus restored the Holy Spirit to believers. On the Day of Pentecost (see Acts 2), the Holy Spirit was restored, the New Testament church was established, and now we have what Adam had in the Garden. We have a body that connects us to this world and we have God’s Spirit that connects us to God’s world — at the same time!
- God is so committed to the system He created that when He wanted to operate freely in the earth, He knew He needed a body. So He submitted Himself to His own law and He came as a man. God, who is a Spirit, came to the earth and lived within a physical body, so that he could freely operate as a human, full of God, in this world.
- Since humans are the ones with authority in this world, both God and satan actively seek the agreement and cooperation of humans.
- Demonic spirits external to physical bodies don’t have the legal right to operate in the earth domain. This is why satan and his demons actively seek to possess humans. Many have consciously or subconsciously welcomed evil spirits to possess their bodies. God, on the other hand, freely offers to live inside every human who accepts Jesus as Lord. When we are Born-Again God’s precious Holy Spirit takes up residence in us.
I know this may seem like a lot to digest, but I am laying the foundation for prayer. You may be thinking, “But what does this have to do with prayer?” Actually, a great deal. When you understand the legal right you have as a human in the earth, coupled with the awesome ability to be influenced by the Holy Spirit Himself (who is living IN you as a believer), you can then tap into the power of prayer. When you have an understanding of the system God created, you want to pray, because you know that prayer is how humans invoke God’s involvement in this world. We all know we need God. But when we understand prayer, we realize that God needs us too. The Father is looking for people in the earth to pray in agreement with His will, so His plans can manifest in this domain.
Of course, God can work without us. I will never say God can’t do whatever He wants to do without prayer, but from what we can see in scripture, it seems as though God chooses to perform His will with the cooperation of humans. This is a major aspect of prayer.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that God is counting on you to pray. This the national day of prayer. Don’t allow this day to go by without invoking God’s involvement in this nation through prayer. Paul said, “First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need. And give thanks. You should pray for rulers and for all who have authority. Pray for these leaders so that we can live quiet and peaceful lives—lives full of devotion to God and respect for him. This is good and pleases God our Savior.” (1 Tim 2:1-3 ERV)
I will close with a few final points on prayer:
- Prayer is how the earth agrees with heaven.
- Prayer is earthly license for heavenly interference.
- Prayer is man exercising his legal authority in the earth to invoke heaven’s influence on the planet.
- Prayer is the creation getting the Creator involved in any given situation.
- Prayer is how we invoke God’s will to be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.
I hope this gives you a better understanding of the importance of prayer.
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me. But in order for me to experience that victory, I must involve You in every area and aspect of my life. I get You involved through the vehicle of prayer. I have both a right and a responsibility to pray. Jesus gave me the right to come boldly before Your throne in order to receive the grace to help in the time of need. I appreciate that right and I don’t take it lightly. I also have a responsibility to pray – not only for me and my household, but for every situation the Holy Spirit leads me to pray over. Through prayer I access heaven. Through prayer I come in alignment with Your will. Through prayer I set my faith in agreement with Your Kingdom plans and purposes. Through prayer I agree that Your Kingdom has come and that Your will shall be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
