Effective Prayer Starts In The Heart

My Utmost For His Highest

 

Take up the whole armor of God…praying always… —Ephesians 6:13,18

 

“You must learn to wrestle against the things that hinder your communication with God, and wrestle in prayer for other people; but to wrestle with God in prayer is unscriptural. […] If you ask me to pray for you, and I am not complete in Christ, my prayer accomplishes nothing. But if I am complete in Christ, my prayer brings victory all the time. Prayer is effective only when there is completeness— “take up the whole armor of God….” […]  “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” (Romans 8:28)— to those who remain true to God’s perfect will— His calling in Christ Jesus. God’s permissive will is the testing He uses to reveal His true sons and daughters. We should not be spineless and automatically say, “Yes, it is the Lord’s will.” We don’t have to fight or wrestle with God, but we must wrestle before God with things. Beware of lazily giving up. Instead, put up a glorious fight and you will find yourself empowered with His strength.” CHAMBERS

 

When you get up in the morning do you prepare yourself for the day?  You decide what clothes you will wear.  You eat breakfast.  Maybe take a shower.  In the same way, we must prepare ourselves spiritually.  When you pray do you do a heart check first?  “The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective.”  (James 5:16) We cannot approach God if we try to do so with unconfessed sin in our hearts.   “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:1-5)  When Jesus died, the curtain at the Holy of Holies was torn in two.  (Matthew 27:51)  We are given access to His holy place through Jesus, but we cannot approach God in any manner we wish.  Standing in the presence of a holy God will always bring conviction of sin.  His Spirit brings that conviction.  Don’t be cavalier in how you exercise your responsibility as intercessor for others and even on your own behalf.  When you put on the full armor of God, that includes getting your heart right.  Prepare yourself for the spiritual struggle and the inevitabilities of this life on earth.  ELGIN

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

 

Charley Elgin