May 30, 2022
. . . praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints . . . Ephesians 6:18
The church, Christ’s body, is meant to be whole, or wholesome—in the fullest sense of unity. Exploring the word of God, and discovering the truth contained therein, has an affirming effect on each of us along with the effect of knitting us together as one. But we must agree that His truth is reality. It reveals the only real God to us. The revelation of our God in His word is more than worthy of lifelong focus and attention. A big part of learning of Him is the realization of His unwavering concern for His children. Beloved, our care for each other blesses Him!
The Holy Spirit’s gift of discernment—in our own life, the lives of our fellow believers, as well as those around us who have no knowledge of their need for Him—serves as a guide for our prayer life. This discernment calls us to intercessory prayer; never is it given so that we may find fault with others. In finding fault within ourselves, that very moment is the time to submit that defect in our character to the Lord. If my sinful habit or lack of obedience to a particular instruction is shown to me, I must discontinue it at once! Any clear instruction of the Lord that I choose to ignore grieves His Holy Spirit and is a major hindrance to my intercession for others.
Another deterrent to effective prayer is a subconscious ‘unsureness’ of God. Our intimacy with Him is interrupted when our prayers emerge from a preconceived notion of what the outcome must be. We feel we must tell God how to tend the situations we bring before Him. Too often sympathy for someone’s trial or test of faith has us pleading with God to simply remove whatever causes discomfort or pain. And, yes, I’ve prayed many such prayers for myself. But let us seek first from Him whatever it is that He is trying to help us learn, being certain of His wisdom and foresight in all things. It is natural to plead for relief, but let us first ask Him to help us identify with His interests and purposes. Lay aside all preconceived notions and grasp the confidence that He is more interested in character development than comfort, and holiness over happiness. It is a “side blessing” that the truest happiness actually flows from a holy life.
We are instructed to pray without ceasing (see 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This is when and where our love relationship with Jesus is cultivated. Jesus has never commanded us to do anything that He is not able to equip us to carry out. If we somehow use our own weaknesses and inabilities as an excuse to be disobedient in this area of our relationship with Him, it actually means we subconsciously intend to act in our own strength. Self-reliance must be put away in favor of total reliance upon Him. It is in earnest prayer—in wrestling with God over the issues of life in a fallen world—that His Spirit will exhibit power! This is when we begin to become an overcomer—exactly what He intended all along . . .
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7