The True Weapon Of God's Warrior

If you want to know how healthy your relationship is with Jesus look to your attitude toward prayer. We talk a lot about prayer. We teach a lot about prayer. We think a lot about prayer. But do we pray? And when we pray, what is our attitude? Are we engaged? Connected? In actual conversation? Or is it simply a thought we throw out there in the hopes that something will come of it?

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Does that describe your prayers, powerful and effective?

For the last couple of days I have been blogging on being equipped as warriors and about standing your ground for Jesus. All of that comes down to prayer. Prayer is the weapon that has been given to us in this warfare, but it is more than a weapon. Prayer is what allows everything to flow between us and Jesus. I don't fully understand why God ties his will to our prayers but if we are sensitive to the Spirit, he will tell us what to pray so that his power will be released and his will will be done. That is how important prayer is.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

On all occasions  In another place we are told to pray without ceasing. That means our relationship with Jesus is such that we are in conversation with him all day long. Prayer is not reserved for a certain time of the day or in a certain place. Prayer is an attitude, a state of mind, where we are engaged in the affairs of the Kingdom all day long.

With all kinds of prayers and requests. Jesus is not a rescuer who we run to every time we are in trouble. He is that but so much more. He is the lover of our soul, who we share every intimate moment of our day with. We include him in our triumphs, celebrations, defeats, desires, longings. But it is far more than just us. We also intercede for other people throughout the day.

Keep on praying for all the saints. It is terrible stuff that has been happening in Israel and Gaza. Of course, as Christians, we cover Israel in prayer but what about Gaza? You do realize the Church is there to, don't you? There are Christians there, struggling to represents Jesus in a sea of persecution and opposition  Have you interceded on their behalf?

It is more than that. We are told to be alert, pay attention, look around you and see what is going on. Did you notice how red and swollen the bus driver's eyes were this morning? Was that from crying? Did you take a moment to intercede for her? Did you notice how agitated the Math teacher was? Did you intercede? Did your friend just tell you that his uncle has cancer? Did you pray?

We are warriors. This is part of our equipment. This is our weapon. This is how we stand. This is how we fight. This is how we cover those in our lives. We can talk about it all we want but nothing comes of it unless we do it. We need to get together to pray in accord with the Holy Spirit and each other. We need to pray as individuals, prompted by the Spirit. We need to pray as we sit on the bus, We need to pray in class, in the office, on the park bench. On all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Let's get back to basics. Pray, mighty warrior, pray!

Where Is Your Weapon Soldier!?!

"I will keep you in my prayers."

"I'll be praying for you."

Have you ever heard those words? Have you ever said them? It is the polite Christian thing to say in the face of someone's overwhelming problem. It's often said and just as often forgotten. When we do remember it is usually a quick one sentence prayer: "Lord bless so-and-so".

If we really believe that prayer makes a difference why don't we pray on the spot? Why don't we pray with the authority we have been given? Why don't we pray as if mountains will move right at that moment? In the parking lot. In the supermarket. Over the phone. In the coffee shop.

Did Jesus ever say "I'll be pray for you" when he faced the blind, sick, crippled, dead?

Did Jesus take people aside, move them into another room, find a quiet place to pray?

Prayer is not something we do on occasion as we think about it. Prayer is our big guns, our battering ram, our high explosives. A person who prays and believes is a dangerous person in this world. Things happen around people like this. Powerful things. Amazing things.

I married a woman like that.

When my wife prays things happen. When she speaks God is listening, waiting to spring into action. Not as her servant but as a daddy who takes delight in giving what he promised to give to his child. My wife understands this relationship and the goodness of God and the promises of Jesus and the power of the Spirit. She is not afraid to speak in the authority of Jesus and when she does speak things happen.

I used to be like that. Then I got busy.

But Jesus is not going to take busyness, even Kingdom busyness as an excuse. Work all you want but it will not measure up to what one prayer of a righteous person can do:

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

In Paul's great address to the Ephesians where he encourages them to put on the full armour of God and to stand their ground, there is only one instruction of action given. This is the action:

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:18)

Prayer is not something we do before going into battle; prayer is the battle. What incredible things would happen if only we would remember. If only we would remember the place and importance of prayer. If only we would remember the power released in this world by prayer. In the many things Paul said to the Colossians Paul told them there was one thing they had to devote themselves to:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 3:2)

A Christian who forgets the prominent place of prayer in our epic battle to bring Jesus to this dark world is a useless warrior stripped of his weapon. Pray is not poetic language of a polite society. Prayer is down in the muck and the trenches, releasing the power of God into every situation faced. Prayer is the weapon of trench warfare and I don't know if you've noticed but we are fighting in those trenches.

Devote yourself to prayer! It is essential to who we are and what we do in the authority of Jesus.