In the Islamic world, the muezzin’s call to prayer rings out five times a day, calling people to prayer. In the Jewish faith, traditionally, since the Second Temple period, three prayer services are recited daily in the morning, afternoon and evening. In the monastic tradition, prayer services were (and still are) held on a daily basis: Matins (during the night), Lauds in the early hours of the morning, Prime (at six a.m.), Terce (at 9 a.m.), Sext (at midday), None (at 3 p.m.), Vespers (at 6 p.m.) and Compline (at 9 p.m.)
Prayer is an essential part of a faith life, and whilst this involves personal, individual prayer, it also involves corporate prayer: coming together at fixed times to seek God’s face, to listen for His still, small voice and to present our petitions and requests to Him in the confidence that He is a God who hears and answers prayer.
Tonight at 7.30 p.m., we will be holding a prayer meeting at church. We do this regularly, yet it is often largely ignored by the majority of our congregation. I fully understand the busy lifestyles many have and the fact that no time or day can suit everyone’s schedules. I fully understand not all can attend this meeting for perfectly legitimate reasons and may well set time aside at home to pray with us. Yet still it grieves my heart beyond words that so few see the need to set time aside to seek God’s face in prayer with other Christians. One hour a week is surely not too much to give back to the Lord.
The needs we see all around us, even in our locality, are great. When we consider the wider world, the situations are desperate and can only be changed through God’s intervention and help. There is great power in the fervent prayers of God’s people, committed to each other and to God, but we cannot expect to sit back and do nothing when it is clear in Scripture that we are called to pray without ceasing and to seek God’s face in repentance, humility and intercession.
Even within the meetings we hold on Sunday, we need to be bold in approaching God in prayer and in pouring out our hearts before Him. God is calling for people who will pray fervently, unstintingly, confidently and persistently. All He asks is that we keep watch with Him and learn from the One whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.