Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke

This is the sixth in a series of lessons from the Book of Jonah:

 1. Prayer allows you to overcome yourself. Jonah had many personal struggles with the call to go to Nineveh. He seemingly did not want those people to find the mercy of God, but rather desired their destruction. Had Jonah prayed, perhaps he would have conquered his personal feelings and surrendered to the will of God. Conquer your will through prayer! Matt. 26:39

 2. Prayer brings fellowship with God. This feeds our spiritual nature, strengthening the spirit over the flesh. It brings unity and fellowship with the Lord. Acts 16:25 

3. Prayer can change our circumstances. It impacts the way we view situations, and often leads to new doors opening for our ministries. Acts 13:2

 4. Prayer provides strength and courage to perform God’s will, even though we don’t understand what He is doing.

(Think of Philip leaving a great outpouring of the Holy Ghost, in a revival he started, to go into the desert to preach to one man. But, oh, what a man. Acts 8:29-30) 

5. It provides direction for our next move. (Remember Peter going to the rooftop to meditate, then seeing the great vision of the sheet coming down from heaven. He was instructed to go with the men who came seeking him and take the gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 10:17-18) 

6. It’s never too late to pray. Jonah 2:1-2