SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1179

“Prayer Life”

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. – Colossians 4:2

How would you characterize your prayer life? Spontaneous? Sporadic? Non-existent? Continuous? Our prayer life is to be as natural as our regular breathing. It is unfortunate that this Christian duty and privilege of prayer is one of the first things displaced when the trials and time demands of our carnal life bear down on us.

There are many segments that we divide our time into, Church, Home, Work, Play, Society/Government, and the World in general. Our prayer life and relationship with God is not to be relegated only to the ‘Church’ time slice. Regardless of the context that we find ourselves in, the abiding presence of the Lord needs to be there with us and what binds that holy relationship is our prayer life.

Let’s examine our reference Scripture in more detail.

Continue –

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” … – Luke 11:1-13

To continue in prayer, we must have started. Like Jesus’ disciples we need to ask Him to teach us to pray, which is a prayer in and of itself.

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go into your room, and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. – Matthew 6:5-8

Jesus teaches us that our prayer life is a continual relationship conversation with Him. It is not to be a public show of our perceived holiness or rote recitation of memorized words devoid of heartfelt meaning. To continue in prayer is to be filled with the Spirit and walk in the abiding presence of Jesus.

Steadfastly in prayer –

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” – Matthew 26:39

Jesus was steadfast in His prayer life as He demonstrated in the Garden of Gethsemane when He yielded to the Father’s will in prayer three times.

The word ‘steadfast’ from the Greek text means to attend constantly, to persist, persevere, and wait upon.  God does not always answer prayer immediately. He does not always answer our prayer in the manner we desire. Nevertheless, we must remain steadfast, trusting in His Love and perfect will for our good and the good of others.

Being watchful in it –

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41

The disciples could not watch and pray with Jesus for very long in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also must be watchful when we pray. Our minds will wander, we become sleepy, and our hearts do not remain steadfast in prayer.

We must be diligent to eliminate distractions when in our prayer closet and ask the Holy Spirit to usher us into the presence of the Father. I like to have instrumental Christian hymns playing softly in the background to maintain a worship atmosphere and shut out the cacophony of the world that seeks to undermine prayer.

In all other contexts, prayer is spontaneous, prompted by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. The phone rings at work and we say a silent prayer for peace and wisdom to handle the call. A coworker, employee or acquaintance comes to you with a problem and again, a silent prayer offering up the time to the Lord, seeking His wisdom for the right words and for discernment.

Watch for the divine appointments that the Lord will bring to you. You may find yourself praying with an individual in a grocery store aisle, or the lumber department in a big box store. Be ready to seek discernment how to pray and boldness from the Spirit to pray when prompted to do so.

With thanksgiving –

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Faith and trust are demonstrated in heartfelt thanks to God for answering prayer before He answers it.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. – Psalm 28:7

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. – 1 John 5:14

May you walk prayerfully in the peace, power, and abiding presence of our Lord, Jesus.