“Why am I Here? by Melodie Showalter.”
Why am I here?
It’s a question that rings in the mind of most people at least once in their life. Usually, it’s at a point of great contemplation, questioning the purpose of one’s entire existence. Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is my potential? Is there meaning to my life? Other times we ask it in a different way when we find ourselves in the middle of a struggle, a trial, perhaps a devastation of some sort. Why am I here, in this situation? Why am I in this place, or even this calling?
Every time, the answer lies in this: you are here for the greatest purpose of all, to meet the best possible potential you have, and that is to be a dedicated pray-er, a person of prayer. As a child of God, therein lies our highest calling, therein lies our purpose, and nothing great comes about without it.
I’ve had opportunity to share this thought several times. At some point in their young lives, each of my five wonderful children has come to me and described a deep desire to do really big things for God. Being young and unsure what their specific “calling” is at that time, they have dreams and hopes of doing something large-scale and grand; they aspire to do something that calls for massive sacrifice and yields tremendous visible results. And I’m thankful for that desire in them; I believe that’s normal. But what I want them to know and understand is that prayer has the highest value and is the ultimate high calling.
If the occasion arises that you feel unimportant, unskilled, untalented, unseen – remember this: God values prayer tremendously. He sees it every single time. Notice He didn’t say His house would be called a house of skilled piano playing, or a house of great orators. He said it would be called a house of prayer. He didn’t say He’d grant favor and bestow blessings upon those who humbled themselves and preached great crusades or planned great events. He said He would do that for those who will humble themselves and pray, and seek His face. (II Chronicles 7:14) Does prayer sometimes result in incredible God-bestowed talents and abilities and power-moments? Absolutely! Other times its results cannot be seen and will never be known. But we must understand that the foundation of all great things is prayer.
When people come to me wanting to do something big for God, I beg them to apply themselves to prayer. The greatest need in the church is to have more people being effective, consistent, fervent pray-ers. Those are easily the MVPs of any church, any revival, any great success story. If you want to find your purpose and live up to your full potential, become a person dedicated to prayer.
“If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
“The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.
(Information from: UPCI Ladies Ministries – ladiesprayerinternational@aol)