ConneXus Blog

By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor

Last week I shared briefly about the importance of our fellowship with God through the means of Prayer (talking to God).  My perspectives are still being developed on just how our communication with God affects circumstances and/or how this unique fellowship with the Creator of the Universe effectively changes us.  What I do believe with all my heart is that there is power in prayer and that as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we are to be clothed by his character; his mindset.  How can we be clothed in Him if we do not know Him?

We can only truly know the Lord if and when we commit to regular and consistent times of intimacy with Him. 

I was reading this week through some sermon's of John Piper's.  In one on the issue of prayer he expresses the following to his congregation:

 "I hate the devil, and the way he is killing some of you by persuading you it is legalistic to be as regular in your prayers as you are in your eating and sleeping and Internet use. Do you not see what a sucker he his making out of you? He is laughing up his sleeve at how easy it is to deceive Christians about the importance of prayer.

God has given us means of grace. If we do not use them to their fullest advantage, our complaints against him will not stick. If we don't eat, we starve. If we don't drink, we get dehydrated. If we don't exercise a muscle, it atrophies. If we don't breathe, we suffocate. And just as there are physical means of life, there are spiritual means of grace. Resist the lies of the devil … and get a bigger breakthrough in prayer than you've ever had."

I think this is great and important advice—resist the lies of the devil and get the bigger breakthrough in prayer!  Resist Him when he tries to convince you that your prayer is useless.  Resist him when he implies or screams in your ear that somehow you have failed because your requests have seemingly gone unheard.  Resist Him when He encourages you to withdraw your boldness. Resist Him when he knowingly and purposefully distracts you and steals your fellowship with your Savior.

Instead thank God all the more for His Lordship and perfect provisions.  Thank God that He intervenes to work the threads of this life together miraculously.  Give Him praise when the battle rages against you and those you love, because you trust and you know He will work it out the right, the best and good way.  I think we have let the devil's lethargy captivate us too long and it is time to get back to being a people of prayer.

Come on friend, don't you think it's time for a little breakthrough!