THE FORCE OF PRAYER AND DRYNESS

The prophet Jonah is noted for running from the call of God and finally caught up in the belly of a great fish. The Bible teaches that God prepared this fish to swallow Jonah. This is an act of love. God insisted on Jonah walking in the perfect will of God. He (God) then had to allow a fish to swallow him (Jonah) to draw his attention not to harm him. Many a time God blindfolds His children just to get their attention but as often as He tries the devil steps in to cause them to harden their hearts. 

There is a clear distinction between God drawing our attention and temptation. God never tempts us neither can any man tempt HIM. Temptation is to cause the victim to stumble and backslide but God intentions are pure, to bring you unto an expected end. 

Jonah didn’t harden his heart but rather repented and sought after God: Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.(Jon. 2:2) The prophet of God encountered a very serious life-threatening situation which had the power to end his ministry and take him to hell. He became very distant from the presence of God. He was walking on dry places and the presence of the almighty wasn’t with him anymore. The phrase, “out of the belly of hell” describes how far he was from the grace and anointing of God. The prophet needed to be delivered from the womb of the fish and that deliverance broke forth when fervent prayer was made to God.

Prayer is a force. Prayer made with fervency is an incredible force which has the capacity to catapult it participants into victory and deliverance. Prayer is the energy which revolves around us so we are protected. E. M. Bounds in his writing titled, “Prayer and Revival” wrote thus: “Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work. Only praying hearts and hands can do God’s work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails. Prayer has won great victories and rescued God’s saints with great triumphs when every other hope was gone. Men who know how to pray are the greatest boon God can give to earth, they are the richest gift earth can offer heaven. Men, who know how to use this weapon of prayer, are God’s best soldiers. His mightiest leaders.” Prayer is the weapon God has given to humanity to breakthrough in life.

Dryness is a deficiency which breaks a harmonious relationship with God. It was out of dryness that Jonah cried unto God for his mercy. Dryness is the womb of the predicaments we face in this life as human beings. We encounter certain problems and misfortunes because of spiritual dryness. 

There are many elements which come together to create dryness. Fornication, gossip, idolatry, masturbation, adultery, witchcraft, foolish jesting, smoking, telling lies, "smooching", unforgiveness etc. are all elements or components of spiritual dryness. The more these things prevail in the life of an individual, the more dry one becomes.

Dryness is a state of the flesh, carnal-mindedness and life outside the presence of God. In the state of dryness one is left to the option of depression, isolation and finally suicide. Dry people are unable to connect with God and like Jonah are lost in the mouth of a great whale in an ocean. This state can only be destroyed by prayer as a weapon. Like prophet Jonah if you call on God in prayer the whale will let you out, and your dryness will be no more.

Adapted from "A Practical Guide for Activating the Promises of God" Authored by S. E. Entsua-Mensah

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By S. E. Entsua-Mensah. ©2014 Christ for Humanity Outreach
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