“You have not because you ask not.” James 4:2
There is a story still taught in Jewish synagogues to this day about a man known as the “Circle Maker.” It was the first century B.C., and a devastating drought threatened to destroy an entire nation. An old sage by the name of Honi lived outside the walls of Jerusalem, and he was known as a man of powerful prayer. The leaders of the nation went to Honi in desperation and asked him to pray because families were going to die in a matter of days because there was no more water anywhere. Honi agreed to pray to “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” for rain. He took his staff and drew a circle in the sand, dropped to his knees, and threw up his hands while thousands of people gathered around. He prayed, “I swear before your great name that I will not move from this circle until you have shown mercy, oh God, upon your children!”
History records that as that prayer left his lips, instantly, a light rain began to descend on the earth! The people started to shout and celebrate because they had not seen rain in so long. Then Honi prayed another prayer, “Not for such a rain have I prayed but for rain that will fill every valley, cistern, and cavern, Oh God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Then suddenly, the sprinkle turned into a torrential downpour! It was a beautiful downpour that lasted for days. Honi became known as the “Circle Maker,” and his story can be found in the history books of rabbis in Jewish Synagogues everywhere.
Prayers are prophesies of your future. Lack of prayer means that you are not receiving any prophecies for your future. The only future that you or your family have are the prayers that you are praying. God does not want us to pray weak prayers or “get-by” prayers. God wants you, like Honi, to pray powerful prayers that demonstrate your faith in His ability to change any situation at any time. Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.
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