January 12 - The ABC's of Prayer

The ABC’s of Prayer

            The age of weaponry has increased through each passing decade and century.  While once the tools of battle involved swords and shields, they soon advanced to guns and grenades finally reaching the levels of bazookas and bombs.  Whatever the case, the most powerful weapon in the believer’s arson is prayer.  Nothing can surpass it yet many still struggle to take advantage of it.

            Samuel Chadwick once said about the devil, “He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”  You have a very real enemy who is dead-set against your success and will stop at no means to thwart it.  He has come to “kill, steal and destroy you.”  His multi-millennial mission has never changed and won’t conclude until he’s left as many people in his morbid wake as he can defeat. 

            Fisher Humphries refers to 3 categories that occur in prayer. 

First, God gives us some things, whether we ask for them or not which is why James 1 says, “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father…” Sunshine, rain, food, family and more are all part of God’s providence.

Second, when we ask God for some things that He will not grant.  As some have said, “He is wiser than we are. Some things don’t fit into his long range plans. Some things could be harmful to us. Some things we don’t get if even if we ask. For whatever reason, God refrains from showing us

Thirdly, some things come our way only if we pray.  This is the middle ground between the first and second.   God chooses to grant some things only if we ask in prayer. 

            We, however, often make it so complex when God thrives on simplicity.  As a simple means to pray this year, think in terms of the alphabet and 26 easy reminders.  Alvin Vandergriend, in his book Love to Pray, gives us a good approach whether taken as a whole or in parts:

A-Abiding in Christ (John 15:4-5)

B-Blessed with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1;3)

C-Conformed in the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29)

D-Delivered from the evil one (Matthew 6:13)

E-Equipped for works of service (Eph. 4:11-13)

F-Forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9)

G-Grace upon grace from his fullness (John 1:16)

H-Holiness in all I do (1 Peter 1:16)

I-Integrity and uprightness (Psalm 25:21)

J-Joy of the Lord, complete in me (John 15:11)

K-Knowledge and depth of insight (Phil. 1:19)

L-Love for God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39)

M-Meditating on the Word of God (Psalm 1:2)

N-New mind, new self (Eph. 4:23-24)

O-Obedience to all that Christ commands (Mat. 28:20)

P-Prayer in the Holy Spirit (Eph. 6:18)

Q-Quietness and trust as your strength (Is. 30:15)

R-Righteousness and joy in the Spirit (Rom. 14:17)

S-Strong in the Lord and His mighty power (Eph. 6:10)

T-Thinking God-honoring thoughts (Phil. 4:8)

U-Useful to the Master (2 Tim. 2:21)

V-Virtues covered with love (Col. 3:14)

W-Worship in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24)

X-X-rayed by the Holy Spirit (Psalm 139:23-24)

Y-Yearning for God (Psalm 84:2; Isaiah 26:9)

Z-Zeal in the service of the Lord (Romans 12:11)

            Even if you pray one per week, it’s worth going through this list twice this year.  Go ahead…give the enemy a reason to tremble today.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1. On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate your prayer life?
2. What area in your life today are you willing to take to God in prayer?

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser