12 August 2010

“Salvation: There’s More …” Evidences Part 5d

Good morning. It’s another beautiful day brought to us by our Lord, so let us rejoice and be glad in it! Today we will be discussing 4 of 5 evidences of, or things that should occur after, salvation. If you’re just joining us, we’re in the middle of a study on salvation. Just check out the previous posts to read it all. All Scripture is from the ESV Bible unless indicated.  All italics within Scripture are mine.

E. What takes place after/because of salvation? What are the evidences of salvation?

4). Pray. Prayer is essential for a solid personal relationship with God, and a child of God will desire that communication with Him. Our understanding of prayer will correspond to our understanding of God. Once we realize that God has a desire to bless us and that God is sovereignly free to respond to us, then our prayers will be seen as dialogue to God. Jesus inspires prayer with His own example and teachings. Jesus would often go to secluded areas and pray (Lk. 5:16), He once spent a whole night praying prior to His choosing the apostles (Lk. 6:12), and He told a parable to show the disciples that they should always pray and not give up (Lk. 18:1-5).

We should pray to resist Satan and his minions, and even our own fleshy desires. “[P]raying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. …” (Eph. 6:18). This verse is part of the armor of God. Our battle is spiritual, and we have to fight it with God’s strength by depending on the Word and on God through prayer. Our prayers are weak and lack discernment, so we need the Spirit to intercede for us, since the Spirit knows our hearts and how to effectively communicate with God. “God is faithful, and he will … provide the way of escape” from temptation so that we can stand (1 Cor. 10:13).

Prayer can give us peace. “[D]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Php. 4:6,7). Prayer is an antidote to worry—it’s very hard to fret about things when we’re focused on our omniscient and omnipotent heavenly Father—and we are to pray with thanksgiving in our hearts. No matter what the circumstances, we should be thankful, not for them, but in them. It shows a spirit of humble submissiveness, meaning you accept the hard times. And although God doesn’t promise to answer your prayers the way you want, He does promise peace, an inner tranquility that, although not unknowable, cannot be completely known or understood because of its greatness and source.

Prayer should be a constant. We are to devote ourselves to prayer, pray all the time, on any occasion (Col. 4:2). We spend too much time complaining or just simply talking to people around us when what we really need is to use prayer first to vent and communicate vertically. Jesus never went to man first; He went to His Father, as should we.  Romans 12:12 tells us to be “faithful in prayer.” We should always pray, maintain communion with God at all times. Practice God’s presence all the time. Use breath prayers throughout the day…prayers that are just a breath long, even if it is just, “Thank you Lord for this day,” or “Hi, God, I know you’re there and I thank you for it.” You will find that you’ll start to pray more without even thinking about it, and you will see that prayer will lead to a greater communion with God and a greater understanding of His will. Prayer is getting closer to God, and we can touch others most when we most touch God.

I pray that your day is blessed.

Niki Ƹ>Ï<Ʒ

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