Unfortunately, prayer is becoming more trivial in our culture. What was once considered sacred is now just a transitional element in a worship service or a perfunctory line item to appease the simple notion that prayer should be inserted to prove the spirituality of a moment.  

The grandstand is often dusted off, and we like to proclaim the cultural sin of taking prayer out of schools. That principle is correct, there should be a grandstand, and someone should proclaim the need for prayer. The problem is that the church needs to hear this.  

Prayer should not be token; it is the greatest expression of faith for a believer and the church. Where have the days gone that prayer meetings were essential in the life of the church? Where calling on God is more important than calling for potluck dinners and inflatables. Prayer was the most important part of a worship service.  

To understand the vileness of token prayer, think of it this way. Prayer is the gift that connects man with God, where the Holy Spirit draws the person praying to look up. When prayer is token, and just a transitional piece during a worship prayer, what does that say for the need to be connected to God? What does that say about the church's desire to abide in Christ?  

Prayer is not to be just authentic, where I lay out my heart to God; prayer is to be holy, where I beg God to grant me the ability to trust his will. Prayer is not just calling on God for his blessing but surrendering to God to be a blessing to God. The modern church states that faith in God is a relationship, but how is it relational when prayer only asks God for relief during circumstances or help during a crisis?  

Jesus prayed for Peter, and it was anything but token. Jesus prayed to the Father that Peter’s faith would not fail, not that Peter would be alleviated from the trial. The Gospel of Luke records the scene, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” That prayer is anything but token.  

Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would remain and that his faith would be transferred to others. Now with that in mind, think about how prayer is used in many churches. Is prayer begging God to help with faith? Are we wrecked with the idea that our faith needs to be multiplied in the lives of others?  

Sadly, our prayers are centered around God blessing us and alleviating trials.  

What would happen in our schools if prayer in our churches was central to the Christian faith? What would happen in our families if we taught our children to have prayer that deepens faith? What would happen?  

When prayer is not just a placeholder in a Sunday morning service or in the daily lives of believers, everything changes when prayer is essential.  All-night prayer changed John Wesley’s ministry to be a move of God. It was prayer that the Moravians gave themselves over to that would see revival sweep across the west. It was prayer in the boiler room that Charles Spurgeon’s preaching was rested on. It was prayer that would change our churches and only then our communities. 

When prayer goes beyond a pastor's introduction, worship leaders transition, or a line item on the order of service and lands with a gut-wrenching need for God to show up, God manifests his presence, and the Holy Spirit transforms a life. 

The church has been too satisfied with sound theology, cultural acceptance, emotional worship, and elaborate children’s ministry and should be grieved over the lack of God’s presence. When prayer becomes necessary, that’s when God will be truly desired.