PRAYER IS THE BATTLE




 Image result for CLIP ART SHowing prayerVery recently, it has dawned on me (DUH) that PRAYER IS THE BATTLE.  It is a battle because we must battle against ourselves, our relationships, our surroundings, and against the tempter, the ole liar.  Of course, the battle is FOR  those for whom we pray also.  I began to look for the thought and found the statement made by a revivalist, Leonard Ravenhill, now deceased.
                           
 Prayer is battle. Could it be that in our churches the right
slogan over the door of most of our prayer rooms would be “We
Wrestle Not”? I often see listed in churches names of athletes
who will play ball of some kind, but I would like to see these
“muscle men” operating where strength really counts – that is, in
the place of prayer. Prayer taxes even the physical frame; prayer 
wears on the nerves; prayer involves the whole man. Prayer must
have priority. Prayer must be our bolt to lock up the night,
our key to open the day. Prayer is power. Prayer is wealth.
Prayer is health of the soul." - Leonard Ravenhill | Revival-Library  

I remind you and me that anytime for pray for men, women, boys and girls to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it is a battle.  A battle ensues: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms."  Ephesians 6:12  Praying for those whom God puts on our hearts who are deep into the dark world of addictions...it is a battle against the hold of the evil one who is great, even though the Cross has broken the addictive hold, yet the one addicted must humble himself/herself to receive and live out the Truth of the benefit of salvation. The hold of the penalty and the power of sin was broken at Calvary and the empty tomb! Consider praying for those bound by grave illnesses, cancers, etc.....it is a battle.  Sometimes the ill one may die, and then the battle can become "why pray?" When we don't see the results of our prayers WHEN we want to see them, or they may not happen as we prayed for them to occur...again the battle against the taunts of the evil one:  "You must not have had enough faith."  You don't deserve for God to answer your prayer."  "Who do you think you are?"  Sound familiar?  

I cannot think of any circumstance that comes to us that prayer is not the battle!  Hear again a verse, a command, from Ephesians 6:18, "AND PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS.  WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING FOR ALL THE SAINTS."  James reminds us that the fervent prayers of a righteous man/woman are effective. ( James 5:16) That is an ensuring promise. What has God put in and on your heart that you are willing to believe that your prayer can be effective and change any and all situations and hearts of any and all people? Holy Spirit of God, teach us to be effective in our prayers for Your glory and the sake of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.  Ever learning!  In process!  #IHAVETHREESONS. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more