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Defensively and Offensively
The New Testament teaches that Christians should pray for one another (Ephesians 6:18; James 5:16). We have several examples of believers praying with and for one another (Acts 1:14; 4:23-31; 9:40, etc). Most Christians have been asked to pray for a fellow brother or sister in Christ, usually when there is a crisis or need. If we pray for them at all, we often get bogged down with the material or the trivial and do not move on to the spiritual and the eternal. Where are our priorities? We should not cease to intercede for material needs, but learn to pray protectively for spiritual needs and growth, as well. We need to pray both defensively and offensively, moving from crisis praying to protective praying.
For example: my brother-in-law, Dewayne, is unemployed. Sure I pray for a job, but what is God teaching through this circumstance? I need to progress beyond, “Lord, bless Dewayne and Emily,” and actually be specific, moving from surface praying to in-depth praying. I forget to ask that Dewayne and Emily will appreciate God’s provision and learn the lessons that God is teaching them and their sons through this trial. My concern should not necessarily be for the removal of the problem, but for victory in it and that God will be glorified through it. I need to trust God to protect them as I pray Spirit-led, thoughtful, caring prayers.
Daniel was not kept out of the lion’s den. He was actually kept in it, was protected through it, and God was glorified because of it!
Lea Ann great reminder. Praying for just the physical needs reminded me of the video yesterday. Prayer for job check, prayer for safety check, prayer for the kids check. You are right our prayers need to be for more than the physical and they aren’t a list of what we want God to do either. ACTS is a favorite system of prayer for me. Start with adoration (praising God for who He is), confession (getting right confessing sins), thanksgiving (thanking God for answered prayers) and finally suplication (asking for needs or wants). Even this can become legalistic if I run through and check off the prayers. Prayer is our lifeline to a relationship not a check list. Today Lord help me to be sensitive to what You want me to be praying for.
That is SO right on the money. We instinctively pray for God to undo the the very means by which He is molding and building the Kingdom in and through us. I don’t think it’s wrong to pray for deliverance or healing in our circumstance. But it seems much more impactful an act for God to bring us THROUGH the lion’s den than to deliver us FROM the lions den. Our prayers for deliverance ought to be framed by “thy will be done” expecting only that God will never abandon us.
To Him be the glory! That could mean that I get out of the way. I want to paint the world beautiful – meaning I want to fix all that is wrong (in my eyes). Thank you for reminding me to allow Him to work however He pleases, and my focus should be to pray for spiritual and eternal protection through the trial.