If prayer means as much to you as it does to me, you understand the feeling that I get when someone tells me they have been praying specifically for me. I especially like hearing what they are praying. Prayer coverage is incredibly important in the work we are doing as God's workmen in this place. We desperately need to be praying for each other and not just assuming that all is well; not taking God's provision for granted. There is a reason the Spirit provokes us to pray.
Imagine the joy felt by the Colossians when they read in Apostle Paul's letter:
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians 4:12)
Oh the joy of hearing that someone is praying for our success; that someone loves us that much to be wrestling in prayer for us. Look at the content of Epahras' prayer: that they may stand firm in God's will; that they would be mature; that they would be fully assured. Epaphras desired the spiritual success for his people and covered them in the greatest possible manner.
Christians too often curse with their tongue instead of bless. It is not that we are worse than anyone else, but we aught to be better. Our mouths are not intended for cursing. What I mean by curse is when we complain about people, tearing them down, belittling their effort, secretly desiring their failure. We have to ask what is wrong with us? What is wrong with our relationship with Jesus? If we are really possessed by the Spirit we should be dying of conviction if we curse instead of bless. If we do it easily enough, without even realizing what we are doing, we need to examine if we are possessed by the Spirit.
Being possessed by the Spirit, we will be provoked beyond out human nature and prompted to pray specific things for people. When this happens, don't keep it to yourself, but tell the person. Tell them specifically what you are praying for so they will be encouraged by your prayers. We need to stop listening to our old nature which no longer has power over us and listen more to the Spirit. We need to stop talking about people and start praying for their success.
Be purposeful in your prayers. Keep a prayer journal. Write down names, dates and specific topics. Pray until the Spirit prompts you to stop. Set aside a time in the day to specifically pray for the people on your list. Be open to be provoked by the Spirit at any time of the day to pray as he prompts you to pray. Be attentive. This is warfare and we are the soldiers. This is God's strategy and we are to follow his directions. Be watchful, thankful and pray.
No comments:
Post a Comment