Prayer: Defense or Offense

The Christian life is not an easy won.  We have to do battle on all fronts.  We contend against the world, our own flesh and the craftiness of Satan.  The apostle Paul in writing in Ephesians 6 mentions how we must be prepared to do battle with the crafty desires of the evil one.

Paul encourages us to put on the whole armor of God and be prepared to fight such evil forces.  The apostle makes clear that it is not against flesh and blood that we are contending, but against those invisible forces! Then, Paul concludes this section with these words:  "Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication." (Eph. 6:18)

The question I pose is: If we are engaged in such battle, are we more defensive or on the offense?  How is it in your life?  I believe if we want to see ourselves on the offensive, maybe we need to pray even more.

Standing on the Promises of Prayer

There were various times in Jesus' life when he talked about prayer. He also gave us promises in regard to this very action.

On one occasion Jesus had cursed a fig tree and it withered immediately. The disciples were amazed at what Jesus was able to do. Then, Jesus puts the ball in their court by saying that if they had faith they could command a mountain to be cast into the sea. He concluded this comment by saying: "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Matthew 21:20

Prayer cannot be just a few words casually spoken from our lips as if they just seem to evaporate into the wind. Jesus wanted us to pray in faith; that is, he wanted us to take seriously our words and that are words are reaching heaven, and to believe that God cares enough to do something about what we say.

What is important here is the promise. Jesus tells us that by praying, we are able to receive what is beyond our limitations and what might be beyond our own expectations. So when you pray, it is helpful to remember the promise and the one who is saying these words.

Praying and Not Losing Heart

"And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." Luke 18:1

We have Jesus' words to his disciples about praying. They were always to consider prayer an option. Even in the worst of conditions they were to pray.

Think of situations where you might lose heart.

1. You have been praying a long time and are growing weary.
2. You believe the situation is not within God's realm of working.
3. You believe there is too great of an obstacle for an answer to your situation.
4. You don't know if you are using the right words.
5. You don't feel worthy to receive an answer.

Maybe you could name some other reasons for losing heart.

Jesus went on after these words to tell his disciples a parable about a widow coming before a judge to seek vindication. It was her persistence that won the day for her. We ought to have the same attitude in prayer. We are to continue praying for what we so fervently desire. It just might make a big difference, more than what we anticipated.