by David Brenneman
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly.
EPHESIANS 6:18-19
In Ephesians 6:18-19, we have one of history's first missionary prayer requests. The apostle Paul, having written about the armor of the believer and the urgency of prayer, asks the Ephesians to pray that God will give him the ability to share the gospel boldly at every opportunity.
Notice the alls in this passage. We're to pray always-at all times. We're to offer all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. We're
to pray with all perseverance. And we're to remember all the saints
In his book on prayer, Samuel D. Gordon wrote that this world is God's prodigal son and that God has devised a plan for winning His prodigal back. He wants to use us in the process, and our greatest agency is prayer, which, Gordon says, is communication between God and His allies in the enemy's country. We're behind enemy lines, but prayer is our connection with the Commander.
Let's take prayer seriously and always offer all prayer in the Spirit with all perseverance for all the saints. - Walking with God, Dr. David Jeremiah.
Communion is the basis of all prayer. It is the essential breath of the true Christian life.
S. D.GORDON
Last night I was really compelled to pray for many people. New people in my life as well as those who have been in my life and those who used to be.
Everyone appreciates being prayed for but if we all aren't praying as well then in all truthfulness not a whole lot of prayer happens.
Prayer isn't to be just our bringing requests to God. Prayer is to be us showing our thankfulness to our Father in Heaven for all He's done.
Prayer is our conversations with our Father in Heaven and our Lord Jesus Christ. David was known as a man after God's own heart because of his prayer life. Samuel was heard because of his prayer life. Solomon started out strong in the Lord because of his prayer life. The Disciples asked perhaps the most important question on learning how to pray.
How many movies or television shows on war have you ever seen it go well for anyone on the battlefield when they were out of communication and all alone? Probably not very often.
We are never going to fare well in this foreign land in which we live, since this world is not our home, without prayer, and not just words but prayer from the heart.
What's on us is to obey and do and to leave the consequences to God.
When we neglect to pray, to talk to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, our Father in Heaven, it SHOULD bother us. We aren't giving a liturgy when we pray but our very hearts poured out to God. Not lists but our heartfelt concerns. Not demands but desires.
Listening to the Spirit in prayer as well as speaking is important. My Dear Reader it's never a coincidence when someone you just ran into is now on your mind. Never a coincidence when people you know are now on your mind. Never a coincidence when something crosses your mind that needs done now or soon.
The Spirit is our Helper not just our Teacher. He is ever present within us. Awaiting the return of Jesus Christ even more than we.
How DID the one or the few in your life become your favorite or best friend? Through various forms of communication. Then those communications that started out in superficial ways later got deeper and stronger. Intimacy grew until your level of trust and perhaps love for the person got to be where it is today.
So should it be between you and your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
So should it be between you and your Father in Heaven.
It's what we were created for...our relationship with our God.
We cannot accomplish our God-given purpose here without prayer and being given His spiritual understanding.
So really look at your relationship with Jesus, with your Father in Heaven today and if it isn't...let's get it right this time. If it is...then go deeper with it.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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