Sweet Hours of Prayer

"Pray without ceasing." This is the admonishment that's found in I Thessalonians 5:17 and it has been a goal of mine for quite a while. To spend every available moment with the Lord Jesus in prayer as he is always ALWAYS as close as the mention of his name. He knows every thought, every need, every struggle; he is a faithful creator who loves us and is intimatly concerned for us. If there's one thing to think on, it's this; that we never walk alone if we're born of the Spirit, and there's nothing too difficult for God. There's absolutly no situation that's out of his control. We will undoubtedly have trials and tribulation in this life and it may seem at times as though we're in dire straits. But if we'll stay in Gods word and stay in a state of continuous fellowship with him, his perfect peace will abide with us and he'll bring us through without fail. Even though we know these things, it's always good to hear them again. Psalm 37:25 is one of those verses that you hear quoted often, which reads:

"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

I have been seeking to spend every possible moment in fellowship with Jesus; be it at work, driving down the road, mowing the yard or whatever I may be doing. I would like to say that I've been successful, however, like most, distractions abound. In fact, it seems as though there are more distractions than ever as the spiritual war, that takes place all around us 24/7, is ever intensifying. The devil and his minions are fighting Gods people like never before. This is just all the more reason to press in; to give all the more diligence in seeking the Lord Jesus. We need to be alert to the ever so subtile devices that the enemy uses to hinder our prayer life, because it's in the prayer closet that strongholds are pulled down and captives are set free. James 5:16-18 reads:

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnistly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

It almost makes no sense. We know how awesome time spent in sincere prayer is, we know that it's the place where battles are won, and yet we struggle to make time for it as we should. We tend to allow every kind of distraction available to keep us from our time with the Savior. We don't have time to play games in this late hour as I Peter 4:7-8 will attest. It reads:

"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

Did you notice that in the in James 5:16-18 and in I Peter 47-8, we're instructed to pray for and love the brethren who are in the same battle as us? To be in one accord with those in whom we have fellowship and "let brotherly love continue."To seek the Lord wholeheartedly and lift up the saints as the world is falling apart all around us. There is no doubt in my mind about this; that the battle lines are becoming increasingly clear. We all need to become prayer warrors as the world is preparing to receive the big lie that the antichrist will profigate. Pray for discernment; pray for the saints, and pray all the more fervently for those around you who aren't ready to go into eternity. With so many souls hanging in the balance, this is as serious as it gets. I try to target those unsaved persons with whom I have continuous contact; that the Lord would grant wisdom in talking with them. I have a history of saying the wrong things at the wrong time and not speaking out when I need to. Walking in the Spirit is so important; not only for ourselves, but for those around us who need Jesus. I pray that we all would strive to be in continuous fellowship with the Lord with more diligence than ever before. Jesus really is returning. The more that we understand this, the more that we'll be about the business that really matters.