How is it that our biggest weapon and our most powerful tool, has become our last resort? 

Our culture offers  whole plethora of 'answers'. We have a whole multitude of options available to us when it comes to need. Need money? - ask family,  take out a loan or apply for a credit card. Sick? - go to the medicine cabinet, the doctor or a consultant. Feel low? - reach for a chocolate bar, head to the gym or seek a counsellor. 

We all know people who would not be seen in a church other than to attend the obligatory christenings, marriages and funerals . Yet when worst comes to worst, all options are exhausted and the cancer still threatens or the jobs aren't coming - they pray. 

As a contrast, I spent a month in India and was overwhelmed by the stories of miracles that had happened within the slums - healing, lives turned round, freedom and incredible provision. I questioned as to whether God was more present in the Delhi slums than he was in our privileged culture. Or maybe they were praying differently, maybe they had more faith. But, the sobering reality was that they had nowhere else to turn, they had no doctor to dish out tablets, or companies enticing them to sign up for instant cash. They had God - or nothing. 

Philippians 4:6 (NIV) tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present our requests to God. 

Let's be Philippians 4:6 people who seek God first. Of course, God works through and with medicine and the actions of others, but I believe that as we pray we release the activity of heaven. By inviting God into our circumstances, by covering things in prayer, by praying for others, we are proclaiming that we trust him, that we need him. 

Let's rise up to be people of prayer who are generous in intercession for others. Let's pray for courage the courage to offer prayer, or to utter the sentence 'I'm praying for you' to hall mates and colleagues. As William Temple said 'When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't pray - they don't.' Let's rediscover the beauty and value of one of the most incredible gifts we have inherited - the ability to speak directly to our heavenly Dad. 

Let's reclaim prayer as our plan A

Anna Mathur