PRACTICAL PRAYER
Ester M. Korszyk
I see that when I make time in reading my
Bible and pray, I can see strongholds disappear, you see these are two most
strong weapon the enemy hates, and that is our time and the Word of God. So
what are we to do with our time as His daughters? Is simply, giving Him our
time. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: “We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. And take captive every
thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
The only way strongholds can be taken away is for them to be demolished,
and that is By the Spirit of God. We
have these two weapons to fight against every time, and I must say at all
times.
Now
the enemy wants to divert us into another thought which does not belong to prayer
or reading the Bible. You see, if we are
in tune with Him and know His heart and mind, then we can quickly escape the
enemy by the authority of Christ, and get back into His Word, and being aware
of His presence, you will be demolishing every strong hold. So it
is with our time, without putting vague words or thoughts of any other kind,
but focusing only on His presence, along with His Word, we can bring every thought
captive, before the enemy comes in to captivate our minds. I also think that a good attitude and the
right focus help us to handle it better.
Paul the Apostle encouraged the Corinthians in their trials: “Do not
look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary,
but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor.4:18). So what’s unseen and eternal that we can look
at? The character of God is an excellent place to focus. He is good (Psalm 25:8), He is just (Isa. 30:18),
He is forgiving (1John 1:9), He is Faithful (Deut. 7:9). Pondering God’s character can give us joy in
the middle of our struggles. When Christ
is the center of your focus, all else will come into proper perspective.
Oh
my dear friend what an advantage we have to beautify ourselves in our inner
being. That is the best way He wants us to represent
Him. I know that the God who created you
and me is really a jealous God who wants our time, because He made time and
space. He wants to pour out on us His
love, His mercy, His comfort, His peace.
No one person on earth will ever offer all of these to you and me. People don’t have time to really listen to
our problems or dilemmas. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything by prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God.” How awesome is
to know we His children have full access to His throne, because He has all the
time in the world for just you and me.
My dear friend, the beauty of prayer is
talking with God – Hebrews 10:19 “Therefore brothers, since we have confidence
to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way
opened for us through the curtain, that is his body.” We need to know His heart. Psalm 10:14 “But you O God, do see trouble and
grief; you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the
fatherless.” He gives us rest, peace,
assurance that He will do what He says He will do. Let’s remember it is all about Him, not us. Psalm 68:5-6 “A father to the fatherless, a
defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God set the lonely in
families…” Take advantage of His love for you, by taking
time with him. Remember in scripture
where Mary and Martha were at home with Jesus as their guest, who was the one
busy doing things around the house, and who was the one just listening to
Him? And who was the one complaining
about the other not getting busy? Do you
remember what Jesus told the complainer?
Jesus told Martha that Mary has chosen the best, and that is to listen
to Him. Now, what does that tell you? It
takes time to listen, doesn’t it? You
better believe it. I sometimes have to
stop something just to listen to my husband, or for that matter, my son.
Believe me, it does pay to listen, doesn’t it?“Matthew 6:8 “Your Father
knows what things you have needs of, before you ask.” It
does mean to fully recognize Him as your Lord and savior, as your comforter,
your counselor, your full time partner in life for all your needs, your wants,
your trust. He is all worthy to be
praised.
Now to pray as a habit we need to have the
right attitude. “The obedient one” Remember in the Old Testament God would
always make sure His people- the Israelites were obedient to bring offerings
and sacrifices? 1 Sam.15: 22 “Has the LORD as great delight in burn offerings
and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Another aspect of the attitude of prayer
is that of being humble in His presence (2 Chron.7:14) “If my People who are
called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn
from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their
sin and heal their land.” James 4:6 “God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So my dear one, we really need to be focused
on our approach to the throne of God with much humbleness. That’s his character, another one of a desire
to pleased Him Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart by pleasing in your sight O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
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