08/10/2024
Does our life get in the way of our praying? Do the hardships we face each day stifle our inward enthusiasm for prayer, or do we redouble our effort in it as we bring those trials before the Lord? Often, when faced by incredible hardship or suffering we attempt to fix those things first and pray for them second. The pitfall in this strategy is frustration, depression, and a loss of hope. This inevitably leads to difficulty in prayer.
Jesus teaches us a different approach when He instructs us in Matthew and again in Luke...
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
“Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”
Luke 12:31 ESV
God should be our first stop when trouble comes upon us... not a last resort. When Israel found itself faced by a mighty enemy and the outcome was uncertain they prayed, and more times than not God answered by going before them into battle, occasionally fighting single handedly to defeat their enemy. We too should bring our problems before the Lord and He will hear our voice. We should ask others to join us in prayer, and by so doing they will lift us up when the dark one is attempting to close the door on our prayer lives through depression and distraction... others who pray with us will give us strength, and provide comfort to us in the process.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
James 5:16 ESV
Veterinarians know that a large animal is in grave danger when it goes down. Once off its feet the chances for recovery are greatly reduced. There is something similar to this in prayer... Once we have let life beat us down and we have lost our ability to pray, then we are like a horse, or some other large animal, that is no longer able to stand; we are in grave danger.
We are told to go to God first in prayer, because it is easier and less dangerous for us spiritually if we let Him step in before we have collapsed, but if we find that our ability to pray is weakened and the words just won't come, we can still take heart, because he hears our souls in their unspoken outcry. Then we can seek out our pastor, trusted friends, or church prayer team. It is time for extraordinary help in prayer, God sends us that help through those He has called for this purpose; have faith that all is not lost.
Pastor E.M. Bounds explains this attack on our ability to pray with these words:
"The oppression of our lives often breaks the force of our praying and is like a brass door in the face of prayer.
To have your eyes on God's glory and to be possessed by an earnest desire to please Him in all your ways give power to prayer." – E. M. Bounds
So, if darkness is pushing us down, and our prayer lives are on the verge of losing their feet this morning, I pray that God will step into our situation in a mighty and dramatic way. I ask that He not only leads us in prayer, but leads us to others who will anoint us with oil, lay hands upon us, and pray jointly with us. Our journey with the Lord is one of relationship and I pray that those who are traveling with us will place their arms around us and lift us up in prayer… thus strengthening our relationship with God, and with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
James 5:14 ESV
Today we might feel that our prayers have been stolen from us, but rest assured that in God the night is not full of terror, and there is no victory for the troubles of this world. God will restore us and reignite the flame of prayer that will light our way to Him. When our mouths lose the words, then our very soul, and the Holy Spirit, will call out to Him, and Jesus will intercede for us before God’s throne. We are never alone, and those around us will nurse us to health in prayer as we regain our strength and footing in prayer. Trust in God; He never fails us.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.”
Psalms 46:1-4 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for sending us help in times of trouble, and for strengthening and comforting us through their prayers. Thank you especially for the intercession of your Son Jesus who prays for us before your throne, and for your Holy Spirit that gives utterance to our soul when we have lost the words to speak. Help us to overcome the dark one in this way, and to banish him from our prayer closets. When he pours out his vile depression and hopelessness upon us, we pray all the harder that you will give us relief from his efforts through your mercy, grace, hope, joy, and calming peace. Comfort us we pray Lord, and let us take that comfort by knowing that your perfect will is being done. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. Holy are you, the great I Am who never abandons us, and whose Son Jesus, has overcome the world and Satan’s dominion over it. Even when our desire for an outcome is different from yours, we pray that our trust in you gives us peace in knowing you are working your will in all things good and bad, and that you are making all things to work together for good to those who love you. Just as Jesus wanted the cup taken from Him, so we are to trust and obey you when the cup we are facing is not taken from us. Although we feel the pain of touching a thorn imbedded in our flesh, give us faith in knowing that when you pull it from us, the pain will be gone. Jesus suffered, but it had an end, and He was glorified. Give us faith enough in you to see that our day of glory is coming, and that our troubles are only momentary, whereas eternity with you is forevermore. Hear our prayers today Abba, and reassure us in those offered by our intercessors. Renew our strength in them, and bolster an unyielding determination in us to obey your will, while we endure our momentary affliction. Praised be your name for what is seen and unseen in prayer, and we will worship and glorify you… even if your will is manifest in our present suffering. Great are you, and forever your goodness; give us joy in our believing, and comfort in knowing that our suffering is only momentary.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen!
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 ESV
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV
Rich Forbes