Bound in prayer, Released in freedom

James 4:2-3 says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” The benefits we receive; to know God and believe Him, to glorify God, to find satisfaction in God, and to experience His peace; are all in direct correlation with our motives. To the degree that we desire God’s glory and find our satisfaction in Him, our motives are purified. We can ask God for great things because our desires and His are the same.

On the other hand, when we seek to glorify and satisfy ourselves, we set ourselves up for captivity. Our disobedience and rebellion against the authority of God complicates life. I can tell you from personal experience that at times of greatest captivity, I wanted nothing more than to be obedient to God- because I knew the freedom in Him. I was miserable in my rebellion, and I could not understand why I kept making wrong choices. Yes, they were my choices, and I’ve taken full responsibility for them as my sins, however, Satan had me in such a pitiless grip that I felt powerless to obey, although I wanted to desperately. Of course, I wasn’t powerless; but as long as I believed the lie, I behaved accordingly. Does that relate to any of you? to our sin?

Philippians 4:6-7, a well-know verse says, “Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” That is powerful and encouraging- the peace of God, which transcends all, understanding, my understanding, your understanding, Satans understanding, will guard my heart and mind- all I need to do is pray!

Without a doubt, avoiding prayer is a sure prescription for anxiety, a certain way to avoid peace. The Bible challenges us to develop active, authentic prayer lives, in order to receive the peace that covers all circumstances. Often, we do everything but pray, at least without the right motives. We tend to want something more ‘substantial’-studying the Bible, talking to the pastor, receiving counsel, all seems more tangible that prayer. And that is victory for the enemy, he would rather we do anything but pray.

He’d rather see us serve ourselves into the ground, because he knows we will eventually grow resentful without prayer. He’d rather see us study the Bible into the late hours of the morning, because he knows we will never have a deep understanding and power to live out what we have learned without prayer. He knows that prayerless lives are powerless lives, while prayerful lives are powerful lives.

[psalm 86]

Application, applying what we know of Christ, is all about relationship, and that means prayer. When Satan takes aim at our “Achilles heel”, he always picks the perfect time and wears the perfect disguise. In those times, none of the following will work effectively or alone to keep us out of the snare Satan has set before us:

·        Discipline: Somehow, at times of great temptation and weakness, discipline can fly like a bird out the nearest window.

·        Lesson from the past: Somehow we don’t think that straight when we get a surprise, full-fledged attack.

·        What is best for us: Our human nature is much to self-destructive to automatically choose what is best at our weakest moment.

Our strongest motivation, to run from Satan’s snare, will be the Person with whom we walk and talk. Staying close to God through constant communication, we receive a continual supply of strength to walk victoriously- in peace, even as we walk through the war zone. Prayer is relying on God for victory, not praying is destructive self-reliance. Remember, Christ came to set the captive free. Satan comes to make the free captive. Christ wants to cut some binding ropes from our lives. Satan wants to use them to tie us in knots.

Something in us makes us not want to need anybody, to not be dependant, we want to be independent. But God never intended for us to be that way. That is a big thing for me, to be vulnerable and admit that I need rescuing and to give over control. God created us to be loved and to be in a full dependant relationship with Him. We must walk with Christ step-by-step through this journey if we are to experience His protection, power, and resulting passion in our lives. Isn’t that what you want? When we are close to Christ, the enemy will be defeated. Believe it. Act on it. Prayer matters; the Sprit of God being released through our prayers and the prayers of others, turns cowards into conquerors, chaos into calm, and cries into comfort. Prayer brings intimacy with Christ- satisfying and fulfilling.

We are hopeless to live a victorious life without prayer. The Bible is a book of prayer. Isaiah 56:7 reminds us that God’s presence is a house of prayer. When our lives are over and our battle is done and the record of our days stands complete, may these words be acknowledged of us, “Then he/she prayed!” Oh what power and glory there is in prayer. What freedom and security there is in our obedience to Christ. What joy and love there is in a relationship with Him. He too is interceding on our behalf; we should be wise and follow His example of love nad trust in God our Father.