What is the most important thing for a Christian to do? I'm sure many things come to mind. If you are concerned about truth, you might say that it is spending regular time reading the word of God. This is very important. If you are concerned about commitment, you might say that it is attending the various meetings of the church regularly and participating in a ministry. This is also important. If you are concerned about expressing honor to God, you might say it is God-honoring worship. This is important as well. If you are concerned about the body, you might say it is connecting with one another in meaningful, Christ-centered relationships. This is also important. If you are concerned about our God-given mission, you may say it is to serve the world and share the Gospel with the lost. This is crucial to our purpose for being.However, the most important thing a Christian can do is PRAY.
"It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12).
"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18). "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17).
"Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you" (2 Thess 3:1).
Prayer is central to the Christian life and to Christian ministry. The first commitment always needs to be to prayer. It was central to the ministry of Christ, it was central to the ministry of Paul, it was central to the ministry of the Old Testament prophets, and the list goes on and on.
What does a commitment to prayer say about us?
1. We are humbling ourselves before God. When prayer is offered in the right attitude, God hears our prayer (Luke 18:10f). God-honoring prayer cannot exist alongside selfconfidence, pride, and human wisdom. In prayer, we lay these things before God and seek to shed them in exchange for a humble heart. In the kingdom, the humble are exalted, and the exalted are humbled.
2. We are submissively seeking God's will. God has revealed his will, his mission, and his desire through Christ. When we read the Biblical accounts of Christ, we can see that God desires transformed people that are redeemed to him. God sent his Son, the Son sent the Spirit, and the Spirit empowers us as tools of God the mission of making disciples of all the nations through the Gospel. Prayer helps us to see ourselves more clearly, to see others more clearly, to see God more clearly, and our purpose more clearly. Prayer also helps us to see the power that God grants to us. He is more than able to work with us and through us.
The most important thing to do? A lifestyle of prayer. A posture of humbly listening and submission to God.