Pray!

Pray!

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 Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18 NIV

The Inspiration:

Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, was speaking from personal experience. He had seen a lot during his missionary journeys: he had been attacked, beaten, imprisoned and even bitten by a snake, and had even suffered the loss of many things and people who had supported him. He knew what it meant to be in want, and he also knew what it meant to have plenty. In all of these experiences, Paul knew quite clearly what was important, and what else were distractions. As it was for  Paul at the time, so is it now for all of us today. We must focus on the demands of God's call upon our lives, so that we are not moved by the temporary discomforts that will definitely come. One sure way we can keep the focus right is by the daily and regular exercise of prayer. 

The Expectation:

It must be pointed out that this is not just talking about prayer, but actually doing it. A lot of books are written on the benefits and blessings of prayer, but we must move from talking about it to actually doing it. It is the doing that actually leads to amazing blessings. There is the act of prayer, and the action needs the right environment and application for it to be effective. I am asked to pray in the Spirit, because prayer itself is a spiritual exercise. It cannot be done by sheer force of will, but by the dependence on the Spirit. If I will hear and touch God, I need His help and provision for me to achieve it. It is to be applied to all occasions, because you can never know the truth behind any situation unless and until God shows you, and His time-honoured channel of revelation has always been by His Spirit. 

The Conclusion:

I must therefore remain alert at all times, aware of what God is saying, so I can pray in line with God's will. God also lays out who and what I am to pray for: all sorts of prayers and requests, as well as for all of God's people. There is no situation so far gone that it is beyond God, and there is no one so far gone that s/he is beyond God's grace. Prayer is that key that God gives so I can touch him, know what His plan and will is, and then commit my life to making His will my own pursuits and priorities. That is the secret to a life of impact and purpose. God wants me to trust Him, and He will of course honour such trust. I bring all my cares and concerns to God, and I know He will take care of me and bring me to the place He has prepared for me. God's time of favour is here.