Pastor David Lindell provided a profound explanation of why prayer should be the first response, not the last resort.
Pastor David Lindell
The executive ministry pastor of James River Church, David Lindell, discussed prayer in one of his sermons. He mentioned an important reminder in Psalms 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” According to him, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help from others, but people should primarily seek help from God. He explained that God didn’t just want to help His people, but He was equipped to provide whatever they needed because He created heaven and earth.
Then, he shared a true story about a soldier who wanted to see the President. He was sitting outside the White House crying, and a little boy saw him. He walked up to him and said, “What’s wrong?” The soldier answered, “I came to see the president, but I can’t get in.”
The little boy looked at him and said, “It’s hard to see the President, but come on!” He grabbed the soldier’s hand and walked along the guardhouse. Nobody stopped him or said anything until they reached President Lincoln’s office. The little boy said, “Dad, this man would like to talk to you.”

James River Church. (Screenshot). (2024). Jesus Has Everything You Need, Retrieved March 15, 2024 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J7r3gi_Y5g
Prayer Time
Furthermore, he highlighted that what the little boy did reflected how Jesus helps His people, especially during prayer time. “Do you realize that no matter what you need, Jesus will take you by the hand and walk you up to the throne of grace? And say, ‘Father this person needs your help. They need to talk to you,’” he said. He believed that this is the reason why prayer should be the first item on people’s agenda.
Moreover, he emphasized that prayer should be the first response, not the last resort. The reason is that the Son of God made a way for His people.
“Prayer was purchased at a price. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity in the life of faith. This is why the prayer meeting should be a priority every week,” he remarked.
Watch the full sermon here.
Reference | James River Church
Header Image: James River Church. (Screenshot). (2024). Jesus Has Everything You Need, Retrieved March 15, 2024 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J7r3gi_Y5g