Dear Lighthouse,
Prayer.
Recently I’ve been doing some thinking about the subject. I’ve
spoken to some of you and begged you for prayer for our Fellowship. We have also
scheduled a Day of Prayer and Fasting for March 10th (see announcements).
We’ll be giving out special Prayer and Fasting Cards for this day. While
making them I have read a lot about fasting. Not coincidentally prayer often
accompanies that activity. Yet, through all the reading, planning, and talking
about prayer it all comes down to the simple act of praying and the question: Are
we praying?
What is prayer anyway? And why should we do it? I think we make prayer too complicated
sometimes. It changes from being a privilege to a duty. When that happens prayer is spoiled. It’s really quite
simple. Prayer is speaking to God through Jesus with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is our opportunity to have our heart’s desires, our concerns, our worries, our doubts, our
reverence, our awe, and, yes, our sorrow and petitions presented right before the very throne of God. We are urged in Scripture to approach the throne of grace in confidence (I John 5:14; Hebrews 4:16). We are admonished elsewhere to pray often - without ceasing - to God (I Tim. 5:17). We are given models for prayer (Matt. 6:9-13), examples of prayer, and even things
for which to pray (Eph. 6:18; Luke 10:2; James 5:13-16). So, are we praying?
I’m convinced that prayer is one of those
core Christian disciplines that is far too under-practiced. Like Bible study
and fasting, prayer is just not glamorous and exciting. Prayer is quiet and solitary. We prefer lively fellowship, fast answers and resolutions to our problems, and entertaining
teaching, books and music. But, my friends, if this is your perspective on prayer,
let me encourage you to look a little deeper and see what prayer really is.
Consider this account from the book of Daniel. I’ll pick out just a few key verses, but to get the whole context you really
must read all of Daniel 10 (it’s not long). But, here in Ch. 10 we find
Daniel in Babylonian captivity. He is a Jew that was taken away from the land
of Israel and separated from his people, culture and heritage. He’s even
been given a new name, Belteshazzar. Yet, despite his situation, Daniel is remains
a man of God and devotes himself to God’s calling, to God’s Word, to fasting, and, you guessed it, to prayer. Chapter 10 is the account of one such fasting and prayer vigil that lasted three weeks. But what is interesting here is that we get a very small glimpse into the secret,
hidden world of prayer in the heavenly realms. We get to see what is going on
when we pray and we are given a possible explanation about why things happen as they do and when they do. Read with me:
At
that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or
wine touched my lips;...[then an angel comes to him] “Since the
first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and
I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom [a
fallen angel] resisted me twenty one days. Then Michael, one of the chief
princes [archangel], came to help me, because I was detained there...”
-Daniel 10, all [ ] are my insertions
Amazing!
The angels were at war trying to deliver a message or relief to Daniel. Spiritual
battles were fought in heavenly realms. Princes - both of light and darkness
- of nations were involved in this one exile’s prayer that began three weeks before his answer arrived. Do you see? Prayer is not boring, it is not solitary, it is
not useless. Prayer in this world opens the gates of the next. Our prayers lifted up strengthens unseen armies that vie for control of mankind. Likewise, the lack of prayer opens up a breach in the defensive walls that guard our hearts and minds from
the Enemy’s attacks. A lack of consistent prayer and focus on God allows
us to drift from the moorings of God’s safe harbor into the tumultuous waves that batter our lives and threaten to sink
us to the bottom of a sea of depression, doubt, and ineffectiveness for the Kingdom.
This point could not be made more clear than
in the passage from Ephesians 6. Take a look at it:
For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore
put on the full armor of God... And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with
all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always
keep on praying for all the saints.
- Ephesians 6:12-13, 18
The question remains, my friends, are you praying? Do you see the need? Are you a prayer
warrior? Do you want to be? I hope
you are or desire to be. Let it begin today.
I ask that you lift up the Lighthouse, its families, our sick and needy, and our outreach as a family in this dark
world. Please pray for this ministry and protect us as we strive to lay siege
on Enemy occupied territory.
We have
just had another growth spurt in the class. This movie, The Passion, is a golden
opportunity to witness to multitudes and bring revival to our own lives. We are
threading cords of fellowship in 4X4 that make us nit together and strong. We
are in the Word. God is blessing us. That
is exactly the kind of target the Enemy seeks to come against. Our only hope
is to cling to God. Make Him our focus.
And pray.
Pray for me. Pray for each other.
See you in prayer on March 10th.....
Serving Him with you,
Evan
