Last week was our final week in Stand Firm, beginning the week with reading Ephesians 6:18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. The topic was … Prayer.
We are in a constant state of spiritual warfare. It will come to each of us differently and attack varied areas of our lives.
And while we know the only way to wage this battle is with prayer, we often delay in praying. The title of the reading was “Devoted to Prayer.”
Devoted —> faithful, constant, zealous.
Those words would describe my prayer life on some days, but not all days. If we are going to win the battle waged against us, we need to be praying faithfully and zealously every day.
Prayer is what will keep us in a position of dependency and trust on the Lord. Prayer is what will remind us to put our armor on. Prayer will keep our minds fixed on Jesus. Prayer will bring Scripture back to our memory so we can fight temptation, discouragement, and despair.
The study asks: How does Jesus model for us the way to pray against sin and temptation? How can you regularly implement these into your prayer life?
In thinking about Jesus’ prayer life as seen in the Gospels, I realized He was in constant communication with His Father. He often went to a spot to pray alone. May we develop the habit of doing the same.
Prayer – it reminds us of our need to depend and trust God. It reminds us we are not alone in the battles we face. It reminds us that He will be our help in our time of need. And it reminds us of this:
Our inadequacies —-> His sufficiency.
As we bring our inadequacies before Him in prayer, He will be our sufficiency.
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We moved on to Ephesians 6:18 and talked about prayer, specifically – intercession. Truly there is no greater privilege than to pray for others.
Prayer is the way we come alongside one another in the battles we each face. We do so out of love for one another, but even more so, out of our desire to see each other grow and thrive in life.
As we bring people before God’s throne in prayer, He helps us to know how to continue to pray for them. He brings wisdom, discernment, and knowledge so that we pray for more effectively.
“All of us limp toward heaven, and we all need help along the way. Let us be to others what we hope someone will be for us – a fellow fighter, willing to help support us, dust us off, and point us to the coming victory.”
(from Stand Firm, page 72)
The study asks: Why is the fight against sin not just personal but also communal with God’s people? How have you seen God’s redemptive work in your own life through the prayers of other Christians?
Let’s be praying and help one another across the finish line!
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We brought the study to a close with reading 1 Corinthians 15:50-58.
The study made several powerful points I want to remember:
- “His armor does not exist apart from Him, and the armor only proves to be sufficient through Him.”
- We are equipped, “Yet, we are not simply thrown into the arena and instructed to fight in our own strength.”
He provided the armor and every time we face a battle in our armor, we are filled with an urgency for more of Jesus. We look forward with an increasing anticipation of His return.
“The gospel is good news that speaks of ordinary sinners rescued by an extraordinary God in such a way that even the combined forces of hell could never steal us from Him.”
(from Stand Firm, page 80)
This truly is the best news! We fight these battles with confidence that even when we are worn and weary, we are not beat. We haven’t lost and aren’t lost.
No matter what happens in the days ahead, we are safely and securely held and loved by God.
“May we put on the armor of God and rest in the hope that Jesus Christ has already won the war.”
(from Stand Firm, page 80)
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Corinthians 15:57, NASB)
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As we depend on God, He is our sufficiency
as we make our way to the finish line,
with hope that Jesus Christ has already won the battle.
Photo 1: by Carrie Beth Williams on Unsplash
Image 2: by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay
Today I may be joining … Tell His Story
“All of us limp toward heaven, and we all need help along the way. Let us be to others what we hope someone will be for us ”“ a fellow fighter, willing to help support us, dust us off, and point us to the coming victory.” Love this quote.
As someone who has needed help along the way, it resonated with me as well 🙂
I’m not sure that I like the idea of “limping” toward heaven, but I do agree that we need to lean on others as we “run the race.” I think back to basic training in the Army (decades and decades ago) and we were on a seven-mile march with full gear. One of the fellas in my platoon was struggling with shin splints as I recall, so I fell back and carried his pack and helped him to finish the march. We came in later than the required cut-off time and I had to repeat the march the following day. The Army had succeeded in teaching me that meeting a target/goal was more important than caring for my fellow soldier. I’m sure glad it wasn’t like that following basic training. Far too worldly for me. Christ teaches us to lift one another up. He’ll ensure we finish the race.
As someone who has limped and needed help, I am grateful there were godly people who came alongside of me to encourage me in my walk. What a hard lesson to learn, J.D. May we be merciful and kind to come alongside others, to spur them on in their walk. You are a most encouraging friend!
This was a case of a perfect post at a perfect time for friends in a small group who are really struggling at this time.
You have given me all the right words!
Thank you.
Have shared with them
Mary, thank you for encouraging me tonight! Blessings, sweet friend!
Thank you Joanne, as I read the above post the following scripture came to mind;
“”I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” – Isaiah 46:4.
In His arms we have Victory.
Blessings sweet friend, Jennifer
Amen! So grateful you shared the Scripture!