ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK

Prayer Can Never Be Taken Out Of School - Or Anywhere

(Kent Heaton)

The ability to communicate with God is one of the most fundamental blessings of being a child of God. Prayer is calling upon God and seeking the blessings of the Heavenly Father. Since the beginning of time when men began to call upon the Lord, prayer has been the avenue of mortal man reaching immortality. Expressions of the heart ascend to the high throne of God with platitudes of mercy upon each wing. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6)

Prayer is letting our request be made known to God. This shows the true nature of prayer as it involves the individual and his relationship with God. Jesus tells the woman at the well in John 4:24, ""God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Prayer is not talking to God as we talk with one another. The act of prayer is an act of faith to a God we cannot see nor hear. (1 John 4:12) To pray to God is an action of worship to Spirit.

Prayer is not an action that a person takes to exalt himself in the image of others. Jesus taught that prayer is an attitude of the heart - one of humility. "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." (Matthew 6:5,6)

Prayer is a personal relationship between man and God. While some prayers are voiced in an audible tone, prayer itself can be uttered with the heart of the man as in secret. It is not required for prayer to be vocal to be prayer. At best, prayer is only a communication of the spirit of man with the spirit of God.

In many communities, prayer has been banned from schools. There is great concern for this and well should our attention be drawn to the consequences of our freedoms being taken away from us. However, no man can prohibit prayer. Yes, laws can and will be passed that do not permit the vocal prayers of those who so desire to be given in many public venues. If prayer is a relationship between man and God, how can man take away that relationship?

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do" (Luke 12:4). The limitation of man is only in what can be inflicted upon the mortal body. Man cannot destroy the soul and man cannot keep children of God from praying in school, at work, in the shopping mall or anywhere else prayer may be chosen.

Christians must be reminded that prayer can be accomplished anywhere and anytime the person chooses - and choose they must. Our children should be encouraged to pray in school. Prayers should be lifted for their day to be one of glory for God, to do their best in academics, to influence their friends and to learn to talk to God daily. Every heart bowed in prayer during school hours on school property shows the power of prayer living in the lives of every child of God. Christians should be praying in their work stations, in their homes, in their recreation and in every part of their lives. The only way to take prayer out of school is to take the people out of school. But when the people are in school, prayer should be there also. PRAY!