From the Inside Out (pt. 2)

      This is a continuation of this series covering topics that demonstrate that spiritual growth in Christ truly does occur from the inside out.  In the first post, I discussed the topic of meditation on God and His Word.  In this post, I am going to deal with another inward aspect of spiritual growth - prayer.  I know that prayer is such a simple thing that needs no explanation for those of you who are deep, spiritual, religious, and disciplined; but I want to share a few things anyway.
      Richard Foster said, "Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life."  If we desire closeness to God we must pray.  Expecting to be close to God without praying is like expecting to make a close friend while ignoring them.  To move to the front lines of impacting the world with the message of Christ requires moving toward the face and heart of God through prayer.  William Carey wrote, "Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."  The phrase that "prayer changes things" is certainly true.  Prayer changes those who pray!  When we meditate God transforms our minds through His Word, and when we pray God transforms our passions.  As we pray seeking God, we will either transform to love what He loves or dismiss Him in order to maintain our love for other things.
      When we respond to the transforming power of God willfully, we continue to grow in the depths of intimacy with God and in the likeness of Christ, which will produce results in our lives.  In the life of Christ, prayer was a priority.  He went away to spend time alone to pray (Mk. 1:35).  The locations where the early church would meet were often referred to as "places of prayer" (Acts 16:13, 16).  Paul prayed for the church, and asked churches to pray for him.  Charles Spurgeon said that "prayer can never be in excess," and he attributed his success to the prayer of the church.  Billy Graham wrote, "Prayer is not an option but a necessity."
      Jesus was willing to sacrificially give His life on the cross for the sins of the world.  The early church reached people with the gospel daily.  Paul spread the gospel to places where it had never been heard, planted churches, and endured persecution.  Spurgeon and Graham both led thousands upon thousands of people to Christ.  Each of them understood the value of prayer.  When we pray our desires become God's desires, and His desire is for people to come to Him.  When we pray God truly will change us from the inside out!