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CHRIST-DAILY
PRAYER "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence" (I Tim. 2:1-2). Paul exhorted us to be a part of considerable prayer activity! How will we ever truly accomplish that? How can we accomplish that with all manner of prayers for all men and all that are in authority? I don't think there is one of us that would claim that they are meeting that level of prayer. However, Paul exhorted that this be first of all on our list. Therefore, there is a way that this can be accomplished in the Christian life. Paul begins to give us the real answer to this dilemma when he talks about the whole armor of God in Ephesians chapter 6. We are to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). This prayer challenge is not left up to us alone, but is something we do through Christ in us in our shared life with Him. Christ is our truth (John 14:6), and with everything in life centered and focused on Him (Eph. 6:14). Christ is our righteousness (I Cor. 1:30), and His righteousness guards our hearts (Eph. 6:14). Christ is our peace (Eph. 2:14), and our walk is in, by and through Christ in us as us (Eph. 6:15). Christ is the faithful and true (Rev. 19:11), and we live by faith by, in, through, and from the Son of God (Gal. 2:20). Christ and His 100% finished work on the cross is what quenches all the fiery darts of Satan (Eph. 6:16). We have the Spirit-renewed mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16), and this is the only mind that is protected from the enemy (Eph. 6:17). Christ is the living Word of God (John 1:1), and the Sword of the Spirit is letting Christ speak forth His Rhema Word through our lips of clay (Eph. 6:17). When we let Christ express Himself as our truth, our righteousness, our peace, our faith, using the Spirit-renewed mind and speaking His Rhema Word through us; then, Christ will be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication for all the saints" (Eph. 6:18). The prayer challenge is not for us to accomplish alone. How are you going to fullfil, "pray without ceasing"? (I Thess. 5:17). You can't pray 24-7 in your own flesh and strength. No, we do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13), including all things of prayer. We have Christ and the Holy Spirit in us and in authority in heaven to pray and intercede for us 24-7. (Rom. 8:28-29,34; I John 2:1). Prayer is to wish for or desire something from God. We are asking and talking to God in the Spirit all of the time about things, formally and informally. You are praying more often than you think, for all of our speaking to God is prayer whether verbal or thinking! VWritten by Dwight Davis |
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