CONCERT OF PRAYER
Pray Week 662
“No Bite”

Col 1:10 (NIV) And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Phil 2:13 (ESV) …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life…
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‘No Bite!’ This command is heard in my son’s household spoken by those attending to my grandson who is at that teething stage of life. He will place anything and everything within reach in his mouth and bite down on it – even parts of your body. Because of this experience, ‘No Bite!’ has become a watchword in my own household as I and my wife become aware of the times that we grumble against one another or speak a bit too harshly toward one another.

As believers in Jesus Christ, Christians are called to live a life worthy of the Lord. The word, ‘worthy’ means to act in accordance with God’s call. It does not matter what the call is, whether it be to the ministry, leadership, parenthood, or whatever vocation, the question before us is whether or not we are acting and behaving in accordance with the call of God.

God’s call places us on a path – a path that will shape us and mold us and equip us to accomplish His objective. To be worthy not only means to submit to His authority over us but also to the authority that He places over us along the way. This authority is our parents, our teachers, our Pastors and government officials as well as our supervisors and managers in the work place. Are we able to ‘do all things without grumbling or questioning? Or do we bear with authority only as long as it suits our desires? Do we make every effort to maintain peace and unity or are we willing to cause strife in order to have things go our way? Our inability to submit to God’s authority and the authority He places over us hinders our ability to learn and be equipped for His service.

Furthermore, Christians are to bear fruit in every good work and shine as lights in this world. What kind of fruit do we bear and how dimmed is the light of Christ if our life is characterized by a grumbling and backbiting attitude?

Do you sow seeds of discontent in your church or workplace? Are you the background poisonous voice of grumbling and backbiting toward your Pastors or managers and leaders? Are you known to speak and grumble about others to others, but never directly to the person being spoken about?

Reflect on your attitude and behavior and consider whether it is worthy of God’s call. Is the Holy Spirit speaking, ‘No Bite!’ to your heart? Make Colossians 1:10 your prayer and seek to live a life worthy of the Name of the Lord carrying the bright, undimmed Light of His Presence high and lifted up in this dark world.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God