The work and focus of prayer

Prayer is my work and my only strength. But prayer is also my greatest battle, and not praying, for whatever reason, is my biggest temptation. 
 

Praying teaches me about God and His will. From His responses, I understand what He desires. Sometimes He says yes and I rejoice. Sometimes He says no, but I have learned to persist. He may show me the reason for withholding the answer. If the request was selfish or not part of His plan, then I can stop asking. 

Sometimes He wants me to patiently persevere for that godly characteristic in His child takes priority over whatever I am asking.

Today’s devotional verse offers some of the most important lessons I’ve learned about prayer.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2–4)

Steadfast. Keep at it. Don’t give up. I am not trying to persuade God when I pray according to His will, but am fighting a spiritual enemy who does not want me to ask God for anything, especially for light to shine on his lies and darkness so people are released from his grip.

Watchful. Pay attention. God may answer my prayers in ways that I do not expect. If I am not paying attention, I could miss whatever He is doing.

Thankful. Saying thanks acknowledges the Lord as the source of all good things. When I refuse to be thankful, I am complaining that God does not know what He is doing. If I do that, I could be blocking answers to my prayers. He will change my attitude first, before He does what I ask of Him. 

Focused. I used to pray for whatever I thought was not right in the world, particularly in my part of it. Now I understand that most of the prayers in the New Testament are for other Christians, and for our boldness and clarity in declaring the gospel. Everything else is temporal.

Jesus died for our sin, was buried, and rose again the third day. He offers forgiveness of sin and new life to all who believe in Him. Christians need to proclaim this truth. I need to proclaim it. Requests for a better job, a good marriage, health, enough money and so on might gain the ear of God, but those things are for this life only. Sharing the good news of salvation through faith is for eternal life. This needs to be the central focus of my prayers.

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Lord God, as I go to prayer today, may I lift up to You the family of God and our need to have open doors to share the good news — with confidence and boldness, declaring it clearly and with great love and passion for You and the people You came to save.

Continue in Prayer

Yesterday involved no travel so we considered it the first day of our vacation. In the car and for many miles I was able to pray. On vacation, prayer is a challenge. Sometimes, Lord, hours go by and I do not think of prayer, or even think of You. I am dismayed and how easily I drop spiritual disciplines (even other disciplines) when my routine changes. However, I’m not surprised that You have something to say about this.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ. . . . that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2–4)

Even though my prayers have sagged, I have been thinking about outreach. I notice that many Christians are not quick to speak of You to others. Is this the root of our problem? Not just lack of prayer, but being on a vacation? Having an idleness in our souls? Not even thinking of You when we need You all the time?

Spurgeon scolds me. As I read his words I also hear You speaking to me. This is a paraphrase of what he says and what You say . . .  

A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of a believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of a dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian. If I am a child of God, I will seek my Father’s face, Your face, and live in Your love.

I am your child, yet like a child I am so easily distracted from the important things by the color and sounds and smells of life. Discipline to pray comes easier when I am alone and can combine it with a long walk or a few minutes on my treadmill. But vacations? Even as I try to think of why this is a problem, I know that it is not an excuse.

What can I say? I repeat the prayer from Spurgeon and ask that this year I might be holy, humble, zealous, and patient. I ask that You bless me with closer communion with Christ. I do want to feast more often on His love. I ask that You work in my life so that I am an example and a blessing to others. I need You to put into me a greater zeal to live more to the glory of Your Name. For all of this, I am helpless apart from grace. Grant that I might obey You and most of all, continue in prayer.