Stephen spoke last night from Eph 6:18 about how prayer is our essential kitbag. He likes collecting new tools, but tools ideally need to be stored safely.
When we store things, we can use different kinds of bag: a paper bag, for example (but then when it rains, the bag disintegrates and the contents are no longer protected) or a plastic bag (more resilient than a paper bag, but only able to support a certain weight.) A kitbag needs to be strong, like the ones issued by the army, and durable, able to carry heavy loads.
The tools we need for the Christian life are many and varied, often listed as the ‘armour of God‘ in Eph 6:12-18. Prayer is the vital carrier of victory in all situations, however; an essential and integral part of our lives. There can be many stumbling-blocks to prayer, however:
1) Our lives can be so busy and chaotic that we struggle to find time to pray. Often we are trying to solve problems ourselves and putting all our time and energy into that, rather than praying about these situations.
2) Sometimes our hearts are cold and we are discouraged because when we pray, our thoughts wander or we do not have the right words. Often, we do not know what to pray for or how we should pray: we wish God would just tell us what to do rather than leaving us to pray through the many complex decisions of life! We may wonder if we are praying with an open mind or weighing the options accurately. The good news is that when we do not know what to pray for or how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will. (Rom 8:26-27) He helps us in our weaknesses and helps us to persevere.
Prayer is the place where we reveal our hearts to God and allow Him to speak into situations and direct our lives. It’s the absolute essential of our everyday living and must be nurtured if we are to grow spiritually.