Praying as a Responsibility

Building a responsible prayer life requires accountability, capability, and commitment. Your attitude towards prayer dictates how responsible you will be in the place of prayer. You can’t be more responsible than your state of mind.

Daniel, the prime minister of Babylon, was a servant of God that prayed three times a day – Dan 6:20/ Dan. 6:10

Daniel was reported as a man who served God. The king said, “Thy God whom you serve always.” So, Daniel served God through his responsible prayer life. His prayer was counted as service unto God. Prayer is a responsibility!

How do we pray responsibly?

Pray about the kingdom of God. As believers, our prayers should not focus just on us; they should be focused on the kingdom of God. We must desire the expansion of God’s kingdom and intercede for our brethren in that kingdom. Before you ask God for help, look for the things that would benefit His kingdom and plans. Bear the burden of His kingdom and carry that burden to the place of prayer. God will not only lift your burden for His kingdom but also lift all your personal burdens.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33).

Make sure that in all your prayers you put God, His kingdom, and His plans before your plans, and then learn to trust and wait on Him for all your needs. Be selfless!

Know what prayers can do. A Christian who prays responsibly knows what prayers can do. Jesus understood what prayers could do, and so He told his disciples.

Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Activities of angels are prayer provoked. The more you pray, the more you understand what prayers can do. The more you take prayer as a responsibility, the more it becomes a channel of empowerment for you.

James 5:17-18 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Pray in submission to the will of God. People give up too soon when they do not get the response they want through prayers. God is interested in fulfilling His will in our life. Our prayers should always be toward the accomplishment of His will. Your prayer should mirror that of Jesus: (Luke 22:42). ‘Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.’ We must pray with full submission to the will of God. We should not pray without putting our trust in the Lord.

Acts 13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

We must remember that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much (James 5:16). Let’s take prayer as a responsibility and pray responsibly.