Photo by sixteen-miles-out on Unsplash
Key #1 Realize whose you are
Key # 2 Take everything the Master has set out for you—well-made weapons
Key # 3 Be prepared
Key # 4 The Word of God
Key # 5 prayer
So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.
Truth, righteousness,
peace,
faith,
and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.
In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
Ephesians 6:10-18 The Message
Prayer=προσευχή proseuchḗ, pros-yoo-khay’; fromG4336; prayer (worship); by implication, an oratory (chapel):—X pray earnestly, prayer.
Strong’s Concordance
Prayer=noun: prayer; plural noun: prayers
- A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.
Oxford Dictionary
Prayer is talking to God in various forms, such as a request, adoration, desperation, song, or worship.
I like to call it a monologue because I am doing the talking, and God is doing the listening, which defines a monologue as one in which one talks and others listen.
There are times when I perceive a response (almost like a conversation), but most of the time, it is a monologue.
In the language of the King James Bible, it says, having done all, to stand…Stand.
The passage of the New Testament scripture does not refer to standing as opposed to sitting; it relates to standing your ground and maintaining a firm position. It is your “line in the sand” moment.
It is saying, “You may push me this far, but this is as far as I will be pushed.”
Prayer is essential in the life of the Christ-follower because it is a spirit-to-Spirit communication that melds the unseen realm with the seen one.
A (not quite so perfect) example of this is the Apostle Peter’s prayer of desperation after stepping out of the boat to walk to Jesus on the water.
After a few successful steps, his mind slaps his faith into silence, and his body quickly begins to sink.
Just before his head plunges underwater, Peter manages to blurt out, “Lord, save me.”
Immediately, Jesus was there.
Although Peter saw Jesus (hence, the not-quite-so-perfect example), it paints a picture of the Christ-followers (monologue) prayer life.
Several powerful verses of Old Testament scripture speak to this.
Here are two of them.
Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.
Jeremiah 33:3 The Message
A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalms 46:1 The New International Version
In the New Testament Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ”
Matthew 7:7 The New Living Translation
I like the language of the New Living Translation because it implies persistence, which is different from “trying” it.
In other words, you don’t “try” God; you either follow him or don’t.
You don’t “try” to say a prayer; you say it believing he will answer.
You don’t “try” to do the right thing, you do it because you have been empowered by God the Holy Spirit.
Consider this
The four previous keys deal with you (the Christ-follower) doing something within you.
For example,
Key # 1–Realize whose you are is a mindset.
You fix your mind on what God has done for you.
Key # 2–everything the Master has set out for you—well-made weapons.
You embrace what God has done for you (the Christ-follower).
Key # 3– Be prepared
You agree to do your part.
Key # 4—The Word of God.
You discipline your life to learn what it says.
Once you have done all of that, now stand.
While you are standing, don’t forget to talk to God.
You initiate the prayer, but remember what it is: a request for help or an expression of thanks.
In other words, prayer is relying on God to do what you can’t do, take you where you can’t go alone, and bring you to a victory you can’t achieve.
Jesus teaches us how to pray
This post isn’t the place to unfold this essential passage of scripture, but it illustrates the power and importance of prayer for the Christ-follower.
I like Eugene Peterson’s language, so I have included a couple of verses before and after (what we have come to call) the prayer.
“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.
Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. ”
Matthew 6:6-8 The Message
I like the picture this paints.
You, the Christ-follower, sitting quietly in some secluded place, looking toward heaven and saying, “God, I’m hurting here and would appreciate some help.”
There’s no pretense nor pious humility, just you and the Father.
“With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are.
Set the world right; Do what’s best – as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. ”
Matthew 6:9-13 The Message
The Lord’s (Jesus) prayer.
Notice the focus: God, you do it.
In other words, I focus on the one who can make it happen, pull it off, and ensure victory.
There’s a connection
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. ”
Matthew 6:14 The Message
You and God, then you and others.
It is simple, honest, and life-changing.
You are a winner when you walk in these five key principles.
It is harder than it looks, and hurdles make it seem impossible, but:
“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? ”
Romans 8:31 The Message.
I like to say this: You can’t lose for winning, go under for going over, or be defeated for being victorious!
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that, as you know, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
You must be logged in to post a comment.