The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 39
The Lance of Prayer
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…
– Ephesians 6:18
I have learnt the importance of prayer for as long as I can remember myself. Therefore, praying has become a part of my life. It hasn’t always been easy to pray especially in the times when I was unwell. However, even though I might have slipped up in my prayer life at times, I never cease praying. I have experienced frustration, anxiety and depression from apparent unanswered prayers. There were things that I had prayed about and hoped for many years yet no answers. I remember telling God His own Word says that hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). However, He admonished me to hold fast the profession of my faith without wavering because He is faithful to keep His promises (Hebrews 10:23) and that His promises are yes and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20). I was yet to learn how to use the “lance” of prayer.
I strongly believe that it is impossible to overemphasize the immense need that people have to really pray as prayer is the most important basic need of human beings. Therefore, prayer is a must and not a choice. Jesus instructs His disciples in Matthew 6:5-6 saying, “And when you pray… “. Notice He did not say if you pray but when you pray. In addition, Jesus told them in Luke 18:1, “…that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Believers, prayer ought to play an integral role in our individual lives and our ministries. We must be sure to use the “lance” of prayer.
The weaponry lance enabled the Roman soldier to assault his enemy from a distance; therefore, every Roman soldier ensured that he always carried his lance.
Prayer is like the weaponry “lance”. Even though in Ephesians 6 in his list of weaponry the lance is not mentioned specifically by the Apostle Paul, in verse 18 it is suggested when he writes, “Praying always with all prayer…” With the lance of prayer, each believer is able to strike the enemy from a distance, causing him great injury that paralyzes him when he tries to come any nearer! (Renner, 2003).
The word “prayer” used by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:18 is the most common Greek word for “prayer” used with it various forms approximately 127 times in the New Testament. It is a translation of the word proseuche which is a compound of the words pros and euche.
The word pros is a preposition that means toward, and it can denote a sense of closeness. Nearly everywhere it is used in the New Testament, the word pros carries the meaning of close, up-front, intimate contact with someone else.
The word euche is an old Greek word that describes a wish, desire, prayer, or vow. It was originally used to depict a person who made some kind of vow to God because of some need or desire in his or her life. This individual will vow to give something of great value to God in exchange for a favourable answer to prayer. (Renner, 2003)
An impeccable case of this word can be found in the Old Testament story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel.
The word for “prayer” used most often in the New Testament is more than simply a prayer request. This word demands surrender, consecration, and thanksgiving from us. The idea of the word proseuche is this: “Come face to face with God, and surrender your life in exchange for His. Maintain an attitude of consecration as an ongoing part of your life, and be sure to give Him thanks in advance for moving on your behalf…” (Renner, 2003).
Church, this is what the Holy Spirit is requiring of us today. Our prayer should be a vehicle to bring us to a place whereby we may enjoy a close, intimate relationship with God. We should be willing and passionate to make sacrifices and give up all we can as we desire to see our prayers answered. Having earnestly prayed in faith we should always be giving thanks in advance for answered prayers.
However, it is very important that we are first freed from the things that hold us captives as we bind the strong man and spoil his goods if we are to be effective intercessors. Rees Howells stated that the Holy Spirit can never bind the strong man through us on a higher level than that in which He has first had victory in us.
Today we are going to send out a lance of prayer to the enemy in the name of Jesus.
Hallelujah!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father I worship and adore You for You alone are holy and worthy to receive all glory, honour and praise. Thank you for equipping me with the “lance” of prayer. Please forgive me for not praying as often as I should. I bind every spirit of prayerlessness that has been hindering me from praying and loose an attitude of prayer. I declare that I will pray with all kinds of prayers and whatsoever I desire when I pray, I believe that I receive it and I shall have it. I declare that my prayers are effectual and fervent and they make tremendous power available to attack the enemy from a distance and stop him in his pursuit to destroy my life. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving. Amen!
