janbear
02-02-2007, 08:28 PM
Fighting a Spiritual Battle
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Devotion: Psalms
Scripture References:
Joshua 24:15
Luke 18:1
Luke 11:2
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Romans 8:29
Psalm 17:1-15
Prayer is essential to the Christian life. God
commands us to pray (Luke 11:2;18:1; I Thess.
5:17), and He uses people of prayer. What are the
elements of an effective prayer life? First, we
need God's ear--"hear me." David was praying for
"a just cause"; he was concerned about God's
will. But God won't hear us if we harbor
deliberate sin in our lives, if we pray with
"deceitful lips." He loves us too much to pamper
us in our sins. To get God's ear, we must pray
honestly, fervently and submissively. We must
prepare our hearts for prayer.
Second, we need God's eye--"examine me." David
could have killed Saul on two occasions, but by
faith he left his vindication with the Lord. God
knew David's heart. He probes our hearts when we
pray. Often we are like Jacob; we pray and then
meddle and scheme. We must not pray and then
gossip. God's Word and prayer go together. If we
live by the Word of God, it keeps us in the will
of God.
Third, we need God's hand--"deliver me." The word
save (vv. 7,13) means "deliver." Notice that
David's response is one of submission, and God's
response is one of service. King David asks the
King of kings for help, and He responds to
David's faith. His enemies think they have David,
but God's power goes to work for him.
Finally, we need God's face--"satisfy me." If our
praying doesn't make us more like our Lord, our
praying is in vain (Josh. 24:15). God's goal is
that we be conformed to the image of His Son
(Rom. 8:29). But we don't have to wait for the
resurrection; we can be changed daily through
God's Word and through prayer.
The purpose of prayer is to accomplish the will
of God, for us to become like Jesus.
God uses your prayers to accomplish His will,
both in your life and in the lives of others. To
be effective, your prayers need God's help. Make
your prayer time an alignment to His Word and His
will.
Author: Warren Wiersbe
Devotion: Psalms
Scripture References:
Joshua 24:15
Luke 18:1
Luke 11:2
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Romans 8:29
Psalm 17:1-15
Prayer is essential to the Christian life. God
commands us to pray (Luke 11:2;18:1; I Thess.
5:17), and He uses people of prayer. What are the
elements of an effective prayer life? First, we
need God's ear--"hear me." David was praying for
"a just cause"; he was concerned about God's
will. But God won't hear us if we harbor
deliberate sin in our lives, if we pray with
"deceitful lips." He loves us too much to pamper
us in our sins. To get God's ear, we must pray
honestly, fervently and submissively. We must
prepare our hearts for prayer.
Second, we need God's eye--"examine me." David
could have killed Saul on two occasions, but by
faith he left his vindication with the Lord. God
knew David's heart. He probes our hearts when we
pray. Often we are like Jacob; we pray and then
meddle and scheme. We must not pray and then
gossip. God's Word and prayer go together. If we
live by the Word of God, it keeps us in the will
of God.
Third, we need God's hand--"deliver me." The word
save (vv. 7,13) means "deliver." Notice that
David's response is one of submission, and God's
response is one of service. King David asks the
King of kings for help, and He responds to
David's faith. His enemies think they have David,
but God's power goes to work for him.
Finally, we need God's face--"satisfy me." If our
praying doesn't make us more like our Lord, our
praying is in vain (Josh. 24:15). God's goal is
that we be conformed to the image of His Son
(Rom. 8:29). But we don't have to wait for the
resurrection; we can be changed daily through
God's Word and through prayer.
The purpose of prayer is to accomplish the will
of God, for us to become like Jesus.
God uses your prayers to accomplish His will,
both in your life and in the lives of others. To
be effective, your prayers need God's help. Make
your prayer time an alignment to His Word and His
will.