Skip to main content

And Pray

             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 Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

 

Normally, a discussion of the armor of God ends with the sword of the Spirit, but the first word of today’s verse is, “And,” which makes it part of the list. Could it be that praying in the Spirit is one way we wield the sword of the Spirit?

Prayer is one of the things with which I struggle. You can’t really put it on a table and examine it. People have different formulae for it. But how would you like it if every time you got together with someone, they had the same conversation with you? “Let me pull out my shopping list and tell you want I’m going to buy at Walmart today…” What if every time that person mentions someone you both know, the person has to give a detailed description of who the person is, where they live, and their life history? “Did you hear about Mary, who has been struggling with her disobedient son for the past three years? Last month her sister got divorced and moved in with her, and this week she tripped over the edge of her driveway and broke her arm…”

But when Jesus taught His disciples about prayer, He taught them in terms of us. “Give us this day…forgive   us our trespasses…” And when Paul discussed prayer in the passage above, he said that we’re to pray for all the Lord’s people. Jesus prayed for Himself, and Paul asked for prayer for himself, so it’s not that we’re not to pray for ourselves, but I find myself praying “Lord, teach me to pray and how to pray.” If we’re to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths, and love our neighbors as ourselves, and if we’re to pray for all the Lord’s people, maybe the place to start is by praying more for other people - and comforting them thereby.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more