Abba Father, I cannot totally comprehend what Jesus did for me.  How He suffered and was beaten beyond recognition and all to take away the sins of the world.   What a great weight that must have been.  Not just mine but everyone’s.  I can never do anything to be right before You, except for Jesus.  When You see me, You see Jesus in me.  I ask You today that my life would be surrendered totally to You.  That I would walk in newness of life in Christ.  That I would not try to do things in my own strength but through Christ who strengthens me.  That I would not continue to walk in my flesh but in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in me.  That my life may be pleasing in Your sight and bring You much honor and glory!  In Jesus name, Amen

Selah,

Lyn

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Ephesians 6:18

After telling Christians about each piece of the armor of God, Paul adds on another crucial part of our uniform. Prayer. And although it’s not something we wear, without it, winning any war is impossible. Why? Because prayer is our lifeline to the power of God. And as our great Commander, the instructions we receive through prayer can mean the difference success and failure. 

To be a victorious prayer warrior, Paul goes on to give us, the soldiers of God, practical applications when praying. First he tells us to pray in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit isn’t about the words we say. Instead it means praying according to the prompting and leading of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit then carries those petitions to our Heavenly Father and lays them at His feet. But praying in the Spirit can only happen when we have a close, personal, relationship with God. 

Next Paul tells us to stay alert. Being alert includes being sober minded and watchful. (1 Peter 5:8) For the Enemy’s attacks are never ending, and his deviousness knows no bounds. But nothing stops Satan faster in his tracks then when we drop to our knees in prayer. So just like soldiers who keep their guns at the ready, we are to be ready at a moments notice to go to God with all perseverance in constant and fervent prayer. 

Paul ends by telling us the the importance of praying for the needs of other believers. I once read that as prayer warriors, we are spiritual weapons in God's mighty hand. I love that! That means we have the honor and great privilege of being part of God’s master plan. And when we pray for others, we become important, intricate, parts of seeing that plan come to fruition. Both in the world, and in the lives of other Christians.

Today I challenge you to prepare for battle. The days are growing darker and shorter before the Lord’s return. But until that glorious day, we are to be powerful prayer warriors on the battlefield of a Satan ruled world. So pray! Pray in the Spirit, in all alertness, and for the needs of the world! 

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Philippians 4:6-7

The faith and love of the Lord exhibited by Paul never ceases to amaze me. No matter if he endured beatings, persecution, imprisonment, or a shipwreck, he never gave up. Nor did he give in to anxiety or despair. Does it mean he didn’t have those feelings, even for a brief minute? Of course not. For Paul, like us, always battled his human nature. But because of his close, personal, relationship with God, Paul experienced a peace beyond human understanding. And we can too.

Anxiety and worry go hand in hand with life. Especially as the days grow darker. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay trapped in the swirling cyclone of turmoil. We have a choice. But unfortunately some people get so used to being surrounded by anxiety and drama, without it they feel incomplete. And sadder still, some even thrive on it. But that’s no way for Christians to live. Because God wants to fill every area of our hearts, minds, and lives, with His perfect peace. 

First we need to believe in our minds that God is the Author of peace. Next we need to believe in our hearts that He will overflow us with that peace. And we do that by following Paul’s example of prayers and thanksgivings. How do we learn to pray and give thanks? By spending time in God’s Word, and applying His promises to our lives. For as we grow in our understanding of the overwhelming love our Heavenly Father has for His children, our minds can find the peace they so desperately crave. And our hearts can’t help but burst with thankfulness for all God is and does. 

As long we the earth is our home, we will encounter situations that will test our faith, and attempt to rattle our peace. But remembering that nothing happens without God’s say so, and He uses all things for our good, gives us a peace that transcends human understanding. I love the analogy of living in peace being like the petals of a flower unfolding in the morning sunlight. Our petals of peace open as we learn more about God. And as we soak in the sunshine of His perfect love, our petals blossom in His warmth and goodness. 

Today I challenge you to cast your cares on God through prayer. Give Him your worries, fears, and insecurities. Purposely focus your thoughts. Instead of worrying about what we can’t control, give God thanks for His many blessings each day. And remember all the times He has seen you through and delivered in the past. Make God your refuge. For when He is with us, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, we need fear! And we too can be anxious for nothing! 

 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Right now the world is in crisis. War in Ukraine, soaring fuel costs, and rising inflation, are but a few of the challenges we face. And that’s why now more than ever, we are called to be mighty prayer warriors! Soldiers on our knees filling the heavens with our petitions. Prayers for ourselves, each other, and especially our leaders. 

In his letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul tells us that Christians have a duty to pray for all mankind, leaders, and those in authority. And he gives us four types of prayers we’re to use when praying both privately and publicly.  Deēseis, proseuchas, enteuxeis, and eucharistias. Translated into English, these are supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings.

Supplications are those fervent pleas we make to God for immediate response. Prayers refer to all of our general petitions made to the Lord. Intercessions are those prayers from the heart where we lift up before God the needs of others. And thanksgivings are those prayers of praise for all God is, does, and blesses us with each and every day.

Before we  received Jesus as our Savior, we were eternally separated from God. His eyes were blind to our troubles, and His ears deaf to our cries. But now, through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege and honor of fellowshipping with God. We can approach His throne of grace, and lay our prayers at His feet. Prayers for a hurting world filled with hurting people. On that note, I’d like to leave you with a beautiful little poem about praying for others.

                                                    “Others”

Lord help me live from day to day in such a self forgetful way, 

that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for others. 

And when my work on Earth is done, and my new work in Heaven begun, may I forget the crown I've won, while thinking still of others. Others, Lord, others, let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee….(anonymous)

Today I challenge you to spend some time on your knees. Go to God in prayer. Pray for this world. Pray for all who are facing persecution, hardship, and death. And don’t forget to thank and praise Him along the way. For as the saying goes, “there but for the grace of God go I.” 

 Mark 11:24-25

Prayer is a wonderful thing. Because it allows our souls to connect with the One who created them. Yet there are things that can keep us from having a successful prayer life. Stumbling blocks that dam up the flow of communication between us and God. And unforgiveness is one of them. So much so, Mark warns us that before we pray, we need to be free of unforgiveness towards others. Why? So that we in turn can receive the forgiveness of God.

Forgiving others is hard, messy, and painful. Yet no matter how many times, or how badly we’ve been betrayed, hurt, or disappointed, Jesus says we are to forgive. In fact, forgiveness is so important to the Lord, when teaching the disciples to pray in Matthew 6, He includes in His prayer, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” How many times do we recite the Lord’s Prayer with unforgiveness harbored in our hearts? 

Having a spirit of unforgiveness hinders more than just our prayers. It affects our relationship with God. For not only does it keep us from receiving His pardon for our own sins, but also His peace, grace, and mercy. And it grieves the very Spirit of God living inside of us. Because unforgiveness is a toxin of the Enemy, poisoning our minds, hearts, and souls. 

In our own strength such forgiveness is impossible. But through God’s transforming power, we can pull the weed of unforgiveness, stopping it from taking root and spreading. And when we are free from its stronghold, we can approach God with the assurance that when we come Him in prayer, all things we ask will be granted according to His goodness and perfect will.

Today I challenge you to really search and be honest with yourself. Are there any unwanted plants of bitterness, or tares of unforgiveness choking off your path of prayer? Ask God to weed the garden of your heart. To prune away the thorns and dead limbs of old grudges, hurts, and anger. Leaving in its place a fruitful, bountiful, Christlike heart, and a prayer life free from stumbling blocks!  

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Lord it seems as though everything around us is unstable.  So many rules and regulations…which is the right one?  Help us not to listen to the world or be conformed to it.  Jesus, Your our High Priest who has endured all the temptations that we endure throughout our lives.  We cry out to You to help us to be strong in You, Lord and in the strength of Your might.  We know that we can boldly come before Your throne of grace and ask You for mercy and grace in our time of need.  We know that You hear us and You will answer us in Your will.  Lord, we lift before You ________________________ and we wait expectantly to see what You will do.  While we are waiting increase our faith in You so that we may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing.  Keep us in Your word daily and at Your feet.  Amen!

Selah,                                                                                              Lyn 

1 John 5:14-16

We as Christians are in a battle for our very souls. The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that there is a great spiritual war waging around us even as we speak. As such, we are commanded to be warriors in God’s army. Soldiers armed against the Enemy’s attacks, and at the ready with our spiritual weapons. And some of the greatest ammunition we have is prayer.

There are some who definitely have God’s anointing when it comes to prayer. They pray easily, fervently, and persistently. Their prayers are filled with complete assuredness that God will answer their pleas. But for others, prayer doesn’t some so easily. To them prayer may feel awkward, or they worry they’re doing it wrong. Still others are too proud or too ashamed to come before the Lord. But God calls all Christians to pray; with no exceptions. So how do we strengthen our prayer lives and become mighty warriors? 

John tells us that the first step is knowing God’s will. To do this, we need to be reading His Word. For in it He has revealed to us who He is, and what He wants. And the more time we spend in the scriptures, the more in harmony our hearts and minds will be in praying according to God’s will. Next we are to have complete confidence that God not only listens to such prayers, but when they align with His plans, have faith they will be answered every time. 

Prayer is an unbreakable bond between us and God. There is no special formula, ritual, or words that have to be said. All God wants is for us to come to Him in complete and humble faith. Through the blood of Jesus Christ we have unlimited access to the Father and His throne. And He wants to hear from us! James 4:2 tells us we don’t have, because we don’t ask. So today I challenge you to ask! Go to God in prayer. Give to Him your heart and all it holds. And have unshakable faith that if it is His will, He will see it done! 

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