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Get Past The Enemy Guard!
- (Lk.22:40,46)
- Listen for and respond appropriately to the voices in prayer—they will be many: recently ignored pleas of a child or friend's request, an acquaintence's unkind words, words in thought so uncommon to you, you will wonder how you could have imagined such a thing, etc. Deal directly with these distractions. Do not ignore them. Look at them as instruments that Satan is unknowingly using, steering you closer into the avenue of prayer to God. In some cases the closer you draw to Him in Spirit the more brutal Satan's attack and vile the voices (thoughts)! Rebuke them as Jesus did with Scripture! See it as a chess match and check his every move. Greater is He that is in you than he that is your opponent. Claim the victory!
Consider the lyrics of a hymn penned by William Cowper in 1779, taking from it the refrain, "And Satan trembles, when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees":
What Various Hindrances We Meet
What various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy seat;
Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there.
Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armor bright;
And Satan trembles, when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when through weariness they failed,
That moment Amalek prevailed.
Have you no words? Ah, think again,
Words flow apace when you complain;
And fill your fellow creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To Heav'n in supplication sent;
Your cheerful song would oft'ner be,
Hear what the Lord has done for me.
So, to the faint of heart, "...Hear what the Lord has done for me..." and say goodbye to Satan. -
Be Careful of Planned Melodic Ecstasism As An Avenue To Prayer. Rather Speak Simply With Full Devotion The Letters of Petition From A Full Heart.
- (Mat.6:7)
- Avoid vain babblings and mechanical repetitions, unlike some who see this as a way into praying in tongues. Only the Spirit can set aflame the tongue of an OBEDIENT HEART in prayer, not one's own formula of mechanical recitation.
(Isa.6:5-7; Acts 2:1-3) - When praying, remember that He is concerned with you; for He is solely responsible for creating you. He made you; you did not! He made you as you are, therefore, He knows your every need, before asking. He sustains all of His creation. Yes, you must transcend in spirit the physical for His audience, but remember, it is the spirit that sustains the physical, not vice versa! The spirit may remain strong when the flesh weak, but let the spirit weaken and the flesh will suffer! (Psalms 139:13-17)
- God should be the object of your prayer and not your need. When your need becomes greater than God in your prayer, then His power cannot be seen sufficient to overcome your heaviest burden. This is key to unleashing His power. O Praise Him all the earth. Magnify His Holy name. His name alone causes the earth to bow, sinners to tremble, and demons to fear! Why then should you not praise Him before you petition Him? (Acts 16:25)
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Your hands should be outstretched to Him in Praise as you
approach, not extended to receive from your list of wants!
- A gift should first be offered before reaching to receive.
- Your need, then, should be viewed only as to transport you into His presence! To sense your Father's presence, feel His touch, hear His voice, and bathe in His radiant awe: This Is Prayer! And So You Should Pray: "Father, thank you for allowing my need that turns and transports me to you in prayer. Hold from me, merciful Lord, all its supply, that I might return often into your presence. I receive your grace and it is sufficient where my need is not now fully met as I desire." (II Co.12:8-9) (Psalms 119:65-96)
- So, "seek ye FIRST THE KINGDOM and ITS RIGHTEOUSNESS..." Therefore, Jesus instructed to pray: "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, THY KINGDOM COME ("first the kingdom") THY WILL BE DONE (second "its righteousness") ...". How simple it is—the key to prayer-- that is heard and answered, that is not asked amiss! So it is, He knows your needs as you come to Him in loving praise, and from His storehouse His servants will supply, as you pass from His presence in prayer. He will not send you away empty-handed. Our God is a Gracious Host, who gives freely and only that gift which is "just what you needed," prepared for you all the while, even before you came, or thought to ask.