Interceding in behalf of all the saints

Ephesians 6:18 says Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

When it comes to prayer I have been both a giver and a very grateful receiver. Prayer is so vital to my well-being. I praise God, my heavenly father, that He is always available to listen to my prayers and He knows exactly what to do! In great contrast to myself, when our children want to ask me some things, I am not always available, and certainly I do not always know what to do! 

Regarding praying for other people, sometimes it can be "obvious" what they need prayer for. Either through a specific request for prayer, or a conversation with them might reveal a circumstance that requires prayer.  

Sometimes it is the whisper of the Holy Spirit in the middle of the night, or when I am hanging out the washing, that says, 'pray for this person'. In most instances nowadays I recognize the Spirit's voice. However I have no idea why or what to pray, so I immediately start to pray in the Spirit. Often once I start praying in the Spirit, a specific word, such as 'peace', or 'wisdom' will come to mind. I claim that word over that person's life, in Jesus Name. If it is a reasonable time of day, I might even text the person to say, "praying for you" and give them the word that God has given me for them. 

When I next see the person I was prompted to pray for, it sometimes transpires that there was a need for prayer and encouragement at that specific time the Holy Spirit prompted me to pray.  I get so excited when I hear that, as it reminds me how God can use us, if we make ourselves available to Him. What a network of support if we would have if we always listened and obeyed the promptings of the Holy Spirit to pray for others.

A couple of challenges for us all, are we available to hear the Holy Spirit?  Are we being obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to pray for those He puts on our hearts?

God's weapons

For a number of years now it seems that my life has been played out on a battleground, with attacks in many different ways, but all coming from one source, the Devil. These attacks have not been minor inconveniences. Oh no, they have been of major proportions ranging from having a daughter with cancer, to the challenges of helping my husband to keep a business viable in today's economy.

There has been many a time when I have asked God, "When will this all end and we can go back to our pleasant little life we had 5 years ago?" So far I haven't gotten a specific answer to that question! The response I have received however, has been, "keep seeking Me, keep reading My Word, keep spending more time with Me, keep trusting Me, keep putting Me in the driver's seat of your life. Don't give up on Me."

I have had little choice other than to do exactly what God has told me to do. Everyday I make that choice to spend time with God in the morning before I start on my list of jobs. In fact, I ask Him what I need on that list, and what can go! It is then with confidence that I can go about my day, knowing that I have at least started it the right way. Sometimes by the end of the day everything is more than a little pear-shaped, but that's okay. I just get up again the next day, spend more time with God and start again!

Getting back to the idea of life being a battleground, as I was reading this scripture a few days ago, it reminded me of the daily fight we face, and just how important it is to have God in the driving seat of your life. 

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devils throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:10-18 (The Message) 

I pray that this scripture will encourage you to seek God through His word and prayer. He is the only option.

Who or what has first place in your life?

Here is a question to ponder today, Who or What has first place in your life? 

I found myself asking that question as I was reading my bible this morning, reading 1 John 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods) - [from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be). (AMP)

The New Living Translation simply says, 

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your heart.

Sometimes our lives get so cluttered with things that we think are imperative. Imperative that we "have this". Imperative that we "do this".  But are these things really so important in the big scheme of thing? Are they taking up space in your heart and mind that is meant to be filled with the things of God?

Sometimes I get despondent about various parts of our house that could do with renovating. Thoughts of how the house could be different and what we could do about it start to consume my mind. This "project" becomes top of mind for the day. As soon as I wake up i am writing down ideas about what improvements can be made that day.

And then I feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit as He reminds me that firstly Jesus didn't have a magnificent home here on earth that He spent hours getting 'just right', but rather He focused completely on doing God's will. And secondly the Holy Spirit reminds me that there are many many people in this world who barely have a room to live in, let alone a 4 bedroom house. The Syrian refugees come to mind this morning. 

I then realise that "our house" has subtly taken first place in my life. It has consumed my mind and heart. It is time to ask forgiveness and put Jesus back into first place in my life!

The question for today, who or what has first place in your life today?