The Importance of Prayer

When I return from travels around the world where I have shared the message of Jesus Christ, I am often asked by well-meaning friends and others, is there really any difference between the Christian and Muslim religion? I often think about a quote that was credited to US Attorney General John Ashcroft: "Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sent his Son to die for you."

A few weeks back as I sat in the waiting area of the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, West Africa I was reminded of the importance of prayer. I sat silently and witnessed a devote Muslim offer one of his mandated daily prayers to Allah, from the middle of the waiting room floor. He diligently removed his shoes, prepared himself, and began the futile routine of ritualistic, meaningless prayers. He carefully counted his prayers on his fingers, making certain he did not leave any of the required petitions out. His well-meaning habits were futile because of his rejection of Jesus Christ as the only way to the One True God. His diligence was lost in deception.

Less than an hour earlier, I sat in the car with Samuel Lartey, a Christian brother and pastor, as he prayed personally to the God of Heaven, through the mediation of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He praised God for the success we had enjoyed over the past two weeks as we were privileged to witness over 19,000 people indicate their decision to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. He thanked God for the “souls that had been picked out of Satan’s hand” and “placed into the good hand of God’s eternal life.” He prayed for my safety on my return flights home. He asked God to move on the heart of the manager of Lufthansa Airlines (in Ghana) and that God would grant me the desires of my heart and a good and comfortable flight home. He prayed with passion and victory. His prayers were humble and honoring unto the Lord.

What was the difference in these two men’s prayers?

In the first case, the prayers of the Muslim seemed to be offered out of obligation rather than gratitude. He seemed to pray under compulsion rather than conviction. He was careful to “follow the rules” and “leave no ‘t’ uncrossed.” His was apparently a purely religious experience.

In the case of Brother Sammy, his prayers were personal and powerful. They were prayed from a heart of faith rather than fear. He prayed with the conviction of a man, who had experienced the personal touch of God in his life. He did not see prayer as an obligation but rather an opportunity. His prayers were obviously offered out of a heart of gratitude and expectation. Oh, the difference, Jesus makes!

As children of God, we are given the unique opportunity to come boldly before the Lord’s Throne of grace with regularity, reverence, and reason. We have been personally invited to “cast all our cares on Him” because “He cares for us.” I am ashamed to admit that prayer is most often the most underused privilege in the life of the believer. Too often, we turn to God out of desperation rather than determination. I will admit, there is a lesson to be learned from the Muslim praying in the airport. “Make prayer a daily habit!” The difference for us is summed up in one name … JESUS.