I had the opportunity to go to some great workshops on prayer earlier this week as part of the 40 Days of Prayer for the Treasure Valley that is launching on February 25th.  I’ll probably go on to post in greater detail about some of what really spoke to me in these workshops but, for now, just wanted to share this simple little thought.

One of the presenters asked this question:  “Which is easier, to evangelize people or to pray for people?”  The unanimous answer of the group was that it was easier to pray than to go out and evangelize.  “And don’t you think that people who are prayed for would be easier to evangelize?”  Again, a unanimous yes from the group.  “So why would you go out and try to evangelize people that have not been prayed for?”

Now, he wasn’t trying to say that instead of evangelizing we should be praying.  He was only pointing out something that I do all the time.  I get all caught up in great bigs plans to evangelize without spending hardly any time at all in prayer for those I hope will hear and accept the gospel message.  I get the cart before the horse, so to speak.

These workshops are just one of many ways that the Lord seems to be speaking to me about the importance, power, and effectiveness of prayer lately.  I’m the kind of guy that often comes up with great big ideas — and even attempts a few of them — only to see the desire or interest to complete them fade away.  I think I’m beginning to understand that this is at least partially because I don’t start out with prayer as I should.  I get an idea in my head and just run with it.  It’s really no different than trying to evangelize an unprayed for people.  It is trying to undertake an unprayed for project.  I hope I’m learning my lesson, especially since the next project is about ready to launch.  Only this time, the project IS prayer, so maybe that’ll help.