If there is one thing we must understand, one thing to grasp that we have failed at in our outworking of Christian life in the western world it is this; That true, lasting, powerful and effective work is done through God, not us, and that it can only be accessed through prayer.
I speak from my past here when I say that how many of us are prayerless warriors? We fight the fight with weapons made of human effort. Fighting against unseen things with weapons of sticks and stones. Of words and actions, devoid of the power of God. Unsure where to go next, unsure of how to fight. Of even who we are fighting. We do not understand our place in this fight, nor of the importance of the fight itself.
As I am writing this, I am undergoing the very same struggles, and I have my whole life. Does that mean that we cannot be victorious? That we cannot move past this? NO! God's grace is enough, and His power breaks through.
We wonder why we get tired, worn out, and see little fruit from our exhausting efforts. I cannot judge you, only myself. I can tell you that when I am feeling that way, it is usually a great sign that I have moved out of the grace of God and started to try to achieve in my own efforts and skills.
Some of this may seem, harsh, maybe condemning. It is not intended this way, I am only working from my experiences, and from what I can discern from the word. I can try and paint a nice little picture, but if I have not prayed enough, I can feel it, and so can the world. Or a better description is that they do not feel anything when I do not pray.
Prayer is the power of God in our lives, and through our lives. You see there is something very humbling in this act. To pray, we must humble ourselves. It is an admission to God that we do not have the answers, and that we need His help. We need His grace and we cannot do it alone.
Everyone has a story on answered prayer, if you cannot think of one right now, then ask God to reveal to you how He has, because I promise that He has. His character and nature is faithful, just and present. How can He not?
There have been many situations where I have tangibly seen an answer to prayer. From finances coming out of nowhere exactly when I need them, to seeing his spirit move in a situation when I have asked his presence to be. From getting places on time, to seeing lives change, God is intimately involved in all of our lives, and asks that we be involved in His. Lets stop pretending that He only cares about the big things. He clearly has an interest in all of you, and the small things can often mean the most to us.
Prayer is an opportunity to be involved in His life and plans. To jump aboard what God is doing, and see the miraculous happen. When we pray, we can ask, but we can also wait for God to ask. God is there anything you want to do or say that I can help with? You will be surprised by just how much involvement He wants you to have.
Finally, I would say one in thing in regard to prayer for God's help and power. We often pray, but we often also do not see him come through as we imagine he ought. Or we give up and simply do it ourselves. Prayer involves resting in God, just as much as it involves pressing into God and discontentment. We need to be discontent, and press in to see Him move. But as we do, we must rest in Him, fully trusting that He will come through for us.
To many times have I prayed, and nothing has happened that I know of, and so I gave up and did it myself, denying God the chance to move and so see His power and glory at work.
Sometimes we will not see the provision until we absolutely have to. How many times now have I needed finances, or visas, or anything in between. I do not have it, but the word of the lord remains the same. Go.
But God I don't have the resources to do it.
Go.
We make at choice at that moment. There is no possible way that we can see it happening, yet will we obey, in blind faith, or try and sit back saying maybe it wasn't God as He did not make the way?
I tell you this, every time I have gone, I have never had to turn back, I have never been shamed in my faith, I have never been disappointed.
From just walking through customs with no problems when our team should have been sent back, to having finances provided from nowhere and everywhere at the 11th hour, God has made a way.
That trust in God enables the Spirit's power to flow through us and see these situations change. When we live in fear and mistrust, we quench the Spirit of God.
Do I never fear? Of course not, we all do, but sometimes we have to take a step back and say what is God saying, will I do it or not? Not looking at what the circumstances might say, or how they look and trust in Him alone.
We live by faith and not by sight. We capture every thought and make it obedient. Any thoughts that are not of faith we capture and remove, not entertaining them in our minds.
I have seen God do incredible things, but I want more. I want to be a man of faith and prayer. I want God to use me. I want the lost to come home. I want to bring the nations to Jesus.
Do you?
Let us be men and women of faith and prayer, seeing God's power move through our lives.
If you want a faith story, a story of God's power, all you need to do is say one word. Yes. Yes God, whatever you ask, Yes. I will obey.
Blessings and Peace!
Daniel