Watchful and Perseverance in Praying
Watchful and Perseverance in Praying
This Thursday May 7th 2015 is the National Day of Prayer in the USA. The theme this year is “Lord Hear Our Cry” 1 Kings 8:28. What a privilege to come together as a Church, the body of Christ from all races, tribes, denominations and nations to call out to our father and cry out to Him for our nation and for our people. Praying is not what we do. Praying is who we are in Christ.
As we continue meditating on Ephesians 6, Paul emphasized on praying always and without ceasing, being watchful and persevering in prayer. Again, let’s hear Paul:
“18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”. Ephesians 6:18-20
If we are praying in the Spirit, we must therefore be watchful of what the Spirit is showing us and pray accordingly. As an intercessor, God will not show you something in another’s life to just entertain you or to make light of or see them lower and less spiritual than you. When we become watchful in prayer, we pray God’s will that we and others be conformed to the image of Jesus.
What is God showing you about the people around you, co-workers, school mates, family members, the community, the state, the nation and the world? Would you pray accordingly please? At the same time, God is showing other saints some things about you and me that cause them to pray for us. Hence, Paul calls it “supplication for all the saints”. I thank God that others like my wife and you are praying for me because of the insights God has granted you. It is a trust from God and never to be abused and used to put down another. Whatever God has shown you in your being “watchful” about me and others, please keeping praying and God will surely answer. God has vested interest in us.
Now going for the long hall, Paul encourages us to pray with perseverance. One of my pastors, Phil Powers calls it “owning the prayer request”. In other words identify yourself with the issue you are praying for and keeping going to God for it and never give up. It is not a bombardment and/or “let’s wear God down so He can act”. It is an acknowledgement that we do not have anyone else to go to except God. Perseverance in prayer is giving God His rightful place in our lives as our all-time source for now and forever. To God we belong.
It is time to pray because we will “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
Notice that the peace of God is with us as we pray and not necessarily after the prayer is answered. God is our peace and not answers to prayers so we must be at peace at all times.
Father we join our brothers and sisters in this nation and all over the world to petition you for you said, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14). We humble and confess our sins before you as individuals, the Church, and a nation. We have not always obeyed your promptings to pray but rather we have watched and criticized others and our leaders. We repent this day and ask that you restore to us the passion and desire to pray and to keep on praying.
Lord, we pray for the Church, the body of Christ. “17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (Revelation 3:17-18)”. Lord anoint our eyes to see once again and cover our nakedness.
We pray for our leaders – President Obama, Congress, Supreme Court judges, law enforcement, world leaders, business leaders, the schools and the teachers, the universities and opinion shapers of Hollywood and the media. Lord, we pray that you grant all wisdom and that righteousness and your fear would guide them in all they do and how they lead.
Lord, we pray for our children, teenagers and young adults. We pray that you will shape their hearts to conform to you in this present world of information overload. Help them to have a longing for you and for your word.
We pray for marriages and families. We have not lived out the example we are meant to be for the world. We almost have the same divorce rate as those who are not Christ’s followers. Father, we thank you for the institution of marriage and family. Help us to be gracious to one another in our families and marriages. May true sacrificial love be lived out in our marriages and families. Help us to continue to forgive one another just as you have forgiven us in Christ.
Father above all, we thank you for being our father and that our names are written in your lamb’s book of life. We pray that many will come into a relationship with you through our preaching and speaking of your Word (the gospel of Jesus Christ) and making the grace of our Lord Jesus known to all. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
This Thursday May 7th 2015 is the National Day of Prayer in the USA. The theme this year is “Lord Hear Our Cry” 1 Kings 8:28. What a privilege to come together as a Church, the body of Christ from all races, tribes, denominations and nations to call out to our father and cry out to Him for our nation and for our people. Praying is not what we do. Praying is who we are in Christ.
As we continue meditating on Ephesians 6, Paul emphasized on praying always and without ceasing, being watchful and persevering in prayer. Again, let’s hear Paul:
“18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak”. Ephesians 6:18-20
If we are praying in the Spirit, we must therefore be watchful of what the Spirit is showing us and pray accordingly. As an intercessor, God will not show you something in another’s life to just entertain you or to make light of or see them lower and less spiritual than you. When we become watchful in prayer, we pray God’s will that we and others be conformed to the image of Jesus.
What is God showing you about the people around you, co-workers, school mates, family members, the community, the state, the nation and the world? Would you pray accordingly please? At the same time, God is showing other saints some things about you and me that cause them to pray for us. Hence, Paul calls it “supplication for all the saints”. I thank God that others like my wife and you are praying for me because of the insights God has granted you. It is a trust from God and never to be abused and used to put down another. Whatever God has shown you in your being “watchful” about me and others, please keeping praying and God will surely answer. God has vested interest in us.
Now going for the long hall, Paul encourages us to pray with perseverance. One of my pastors, Phil Powers calls it “owning the prayer request”. In other words identify yourself with the issue you are praying for and keeping going to God for it and never give up. It is not a bombardment and/or “let’s wear God down so He can act”. It is an acknowledgement that we do not have anyone else to go to except God. Perseverance in prayer is giving God His rightful place in our lives as our all-time source for now and forever. To God we belong.
It is time to pray because we will “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
Notice that the peace of God is with us as we pray and not necessarily after the prayer is answered. God is our peace and not answers to prayers so we must be at peace at all times.
Father we join our brothers and sisters in this nation and all over the world to petition you for you said, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14). We humble and confess our sins before you as individuals, the Church, and a nation. We have not always obeyed your promptings to pray but rather we have watched and criticized others and our leaders. We repent this day and ask that you restore to us the passion and desire to pray and to keep on praying.
Lord, we pray for the Church, the body of Christ. “17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (Revelation 3:17-18)”. Lord anoint our eyes to see once again and cover our nakedness.
We pray for our leaders – President Obama, Congress, Supreme Court judges, law enforcement, world leaders, business leaders, the schools and the teachers, the universities and opinion shapers of Hollywood and the media. Lord, we pray that you grant all wisdom and that righteousness and your fear would guide them in all they do and how they lead.
Lord, we pray for our children, teenagers and young adults. We pray that you will shape their hearts to conform to you in this present world of information overload. Help them to have a longing for you and for your word.
We pray for marriages and families. We have not lived out the example we are meant to be for the world. We almost have the same divorce rate as those who are not Christ’s followers. Father, we thank you for the institution of marriage and family. Help us to be gracious to one another in our families and marriages. May true sacrificial love be lived out in our marriages and families. Help us to continue to forgive one another just as you have forgiven us in Christ.
Father above all, we thank you for being our father and that our names are written in your lamb’s book of life. We pray that many will come into a relationship with you through our preaching and speaking of your Word (the gospel of Jesus Christ) and making the grace of our Lord Jesus known to all. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
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