Ephesians 6:12,18 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. With prayer and supplication, pray at all times in the Spirit. Stay alert! And in perseverance make requests for all the saints.
The sovereignty of God is a complex issue that may remain a mystery until the day we see Him face to face. Many believers use this mystery as an excuse to ignore prayer. Knowing that God is sovereign wouldn’t cause anyone to think that they no longer need to work or to buy groceries. No one says, “If God wants me to eat and live, He will make it happen.” We understand that we must work and that God supplies the grace, energy, and blessing upon our endeavors. Knowing this, many still feel it is pointless to pray.
Jesus commanded us to ask and to keep asking! Yet, we resist, arguing, “If God wants it done, He will do it. Why do I have to ask?” We understand the consequences of not working, but the consequences of a prayerless life is harder to see on the outside. Spiritually, many are starving, feel powerless, and lack direction and authority. They do not engage spiritual enemies with the faith of Elijah because “if God wanted it done, He would do it.” If there is no purpose or power in our prayers, then Jesus was playing a joke on us by commanding us to pray. That, however, cannot be true.
Prayer is one of the most vital parts of a Christian’s life. If there are any barriers between you and prayer, I urge you to begin removing them. Prayer is the foundation of our intimacy with God. Prayer brings us out of the temporal and causes us to recognize the eternal scope of life. It is in prayer that the Holy Spirit reveals our weaknesses and selfish desires. It is through prayer that we receive peace, courage, wisdom, direction, and every good gift from God. It is in the power of prayer that we confront the powers of darkness that bring confusion, division, arrogance, and deception. We are the children of God and He has given us this amazing tool. May 2022 be the year that God’s people began to utilize the power of prayer!