by David Brenneman
Prayer is war. It takes the very best a person has to offer and asks him or her to fight with diligence. (Colossians4:2-4, Romans15:30) - Dr. David Jeremiah Colossians 2:1 notes.
"For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ." Colossians 2:1-5.
"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak." Colossians 4:2-4.
"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me," Romans 15:30.
Something that's been stirring in me is to indeed be more diligent in prayer. To not just repeat lists. To put more heart into what I is on my heart to pray about.
While there's a time and place for what Nehemiah did in his very quick very succinct...there ought to be a better balance that pours out our own heart. King David was known as a man after God's own heart.
Paul's showing us that there's work involved in praying that's going to take some time to accomplish.
Jesus, after their own failed attempt to cast out a particular type of demon, told them that THAT particular type comes out only through prayer and fasting.
All this being said...we're quick to get emotionally vested in what emotionally matters to us. We can pour out emotions like Niagara Falls at a sporting event yet aren't the same towards what matters to God. We can get all churned up from a movie yet aren't moved by what moves God. We can get stirred up and spend hours in intense matters of family and friends...and yet only give the One who went through everything on our behalf on the cross not much more than a minute or two.
And then we wonder why our lives aren't reflecting Jesus to those around us.
Are our hearts really in it for Jesus?
Are our hearts really looking to obey Him in all that we do?
Are we trying to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness?
These are some of the things that I find myself wondering after looking in the mirror at me.
"There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 14:12.
"There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2.
There it is...the diligence behind a prayerful heart. We have to decide who it is we're going to please in what we do, say and think.
We are going to have to choose who's heart is going to rule in our heart.
The schemes of the devil involve every single type and form of distraction both known and as yet unknown to mankind.
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23.
"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." Romans 12:9-13.
We, every minute of every day, are needing to be diligent to make what matters to God matter to each of us. It's going to be a battle, just as Dr. David Jeremiah said in his notes. It's war. In wars you don't have a whole lot of time for luxuries. Taking on prayer with the same fervency as Jesus did in going to the cross in all obedience to His Father in Heaven...yeah that's going to take some time to learn.
Take real time in I prayer today as if it really was and is that important to you. I say this as much to myself as to each of you.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment