I remember glancing up at the clock some years ago on the evening of a girl’s retreat I was attending. It read 1:00…AM. I don’t recall what time it was before I went to bed, but my knees were sore from kneeling with 11 other girls and crying out to God for freedom from the fears we were facing in our lives. My initial thought when I looked at the time was “It’s SO late, and my knees hurt, and I just want to go to bed!” But when I finally did fall into bed, I was filled with a peace that is unexplainable. The seeking had resulted in finding.

This leads me to ask you the question, “How much are you willing to pay to spend time in prayer?” Perhaps one of the most convicting thoughts that Oswald Chambers has written is this:

“Beware of placing the emphasis on what prayer costs you; it cost God EVERYTHING to make it possible for you to pray.” ~O. Chambers

We count the cost – perhaps daily – of a prayer life: time, energy, interruption, uncompleted task lists, missed phone calls, un-granted desires and unfulfilled wishes, disappointment, disruption to the schedule…can you add more to that list? But when was the last time we stopped to recall what it cost HIM – The Almighty God?

If someone entrusted a very valuable gift to you, wouldn’t you accept it and use it? When a girl get’s engaged, she doesn’t hide the ring in a box. She wears it, and shows it to everyone she meets! Such is the prayer life of a believer, or so it should be. It’s price tag was one that no one anywhere was worthy to pay…except Jesus, the spotless lamb of God.

The next time you roll over at 5AM and slam your fist down on the snooze button, or start to head towards the breakfast table and remember you’ve forgotten time alone with the Master… The next time prayer meeting in church seems to go overtime, or your knees get sore from kneeling… The next time you feel self-conscious about thanking God for your food in a restaurant, or transparently praying in front of other TO HIM…not to them – count the cost: HIS cost – so that YOU could pray.

“And I beheld, and, lo…a Lamb as it had been slain…And they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation; and has made us unto God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” ~Rev. 5:9-10

Let the cost – HIS cost – change your attitude towards prayer. Prayer is not just a blessing. It is a blood-bought privilege, and to forsake it is for a bride to forsake her bridegroom.

~Hannah