I always say, prayer is our biggest weapon. Yet we us it so little I believe because of two reasons. One, we want what we want. We are not using prayer to know God’s will and asking for what He desires and knows it best. We are asking for what we want. We are asking for our lives to be more blessed by the things of the world. Secondly we are asking with the expectation that it should happen because I asked once. We are not contending in prayer nor are we spending time with God in prayer. No, our prayers are much more like we are ordering at a fast food window.
That is not why we are to pray, nor how we are to pray.
John Piper share a great little challenge on prayer here. I pray it is a challenge and a great blessing. Get into the battle, get into prayer.
“Until we understand that we are in a WAR, we will not under what prayer is for.”
Here is just a little glimpse of the war we are in today... Romans 12:9-21
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Guys to live in Christ this way as we are called to in all things, we need to war daily by the power of Jesus Christy through the leading of the Holy Spirit. This war consists of two battles we are in daily. One, the battel within, the war against the old nature. We will not die to self nor be willing to carry our cross and follow Jesus unless we are engaged in prayer. The other battle is outside of us, it is with the forces of darkness in this world. This is why we need prayer. Because I guarantee you, you will not overcome evil with good, you will not live for Jesus and others instead of yourself in all these areas today unless you understand you are in war and to fight that war you need to be in prayer.
Amen!
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