Prayer: A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity

We have been given the privilege of storing up treasure in heaven through prayer. Prayer is only something we can do here on earth for a short season. Our life is compared to a mere breath. Nonetheless, prayer is an investment of our lives, that has the power to grab God’s attention & make a powerful difference. It is through prayer that the landscape of lives, families, cities, nations, and circumstances are changed. 
It is through prayer that we grab the attention of God Himself. Revelation 5:8 talks about the golden bowls that are full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. These are treasures to the Lord. He literally collects our prayers. I know that the things I collect are of
great and precious worth to me. How much more the things God collects. He wouldn’t collect anything frivolous. Only things that are eternal, of value, and mean something to Him. I have heard it said that the prayers of faith are filed away in heaven, never forgotten.
And here is why our prayers are so valuable to God; the golden bowls that are full of incense are the true odors; the heart prayers of God’s children from the agonizing heart, to the struggling heart, to the triumphant heart. God hears every sob, groan, sigh, song, thanksgiving, and rejoicing.

The Bible instructs us, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” The Apostle Paul said, “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people.” One of the greatest opportunities we have as believers is to reach the heart of man through prayer. We all know someone who is lost, needs the Lord, or who has backslidden. See, the secret of reaching men is to know the secret of reaching God. We cannot reach men in our own strength. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12)

1. George Mueller, who was considered to be a prince of intercessors with God, began to pray for a group of 5 personal friends. After 5 years one of them came to Christ. In 10 years, 2 more of them found peace in the same Savior. He prayed for 25 years, and the fourth man was saved. For the fifth, Mr. Mueller prayed until his death, and this friend came to Christ a few months afterwards.
2. There are hidden groups of people that have been unreached by the gospel over the years, but because of the cries of God’s people that number has plummeted. In 1980 there were 16, 000 hidden groups of people who had never heard the gospel. In 2018 that number dropped to only 7,000, because of prayer

Going back to James 5:16, it says "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." We need “fervent” in prayer more than ever before. This next generation needs the fervent prayer of the righteous. This nation needs our fervent prayers. Our families need fervent to be seen by our children. Our neighbors & co-workers need fervent prayers to be
lifted up over their souls. I have heard it said by a great man of God that the more that goes up, the more will come down.

As we pray those golden bowls are filled up with incense, which are the prayers of the Saints. God, in His perfect timing, will mix our prayers with His power and pour them back out upon the earth to bring the answer, resolve, and change from those prayers that we have been invested in.

This is why we never give up on prayer. It is a guarantee in God’s Word and people are depending on us! Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened."

How much treasure in heaven are you storing up?