Pray On, Pray Over, Pray Through

Pray On, Pray Over, Pray Through 

by David Brenneman 

Yesterday my thoughts were gathered around a meeting coming up this week.  

Preparedness is a good thing when it's not all consuming. We have many people who've gone quite overboard in that area, likewise we have many who aren't at all.  

My thoughts are with regard to a meeting at work called a One-to-One meeting with my Supervisor. Of things that concern myself and my position and standing within the company. 

I have notes from a Sunday Evening Group meeting that it seems God's bringing back to my mind. 

"I choose Jesus's ways over my preferences and cultures positions.

"but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" 1 Peter 3:15."

Our culture here in the United States has really been skewed, high-jacked as it were, by groups to gain laws to protect sinful acts and ways of life.

It's no secret to be able to understand why. Satan's schemes include finding ways to silence Christians. 

He's a destroyer. He destroys families. Destroys relationships. Destroys cultures. Destroys even churches. These aspects of him are found in the writings of the New Testament after the Gospels.  

We must be ready to give a defense for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Doesn't say we need to know exactly what to say. The Word of God is clear to say that should the occasion arise that the Spirit will intervene and speak.  

What's going on that I would need to prepare so far in advance? That's not for me to say here.  

We as Christians should be aware that we absolutely will not go through this life unscathed. 

We will incur injuries along the way. We will find ourselves at odds with a world that still loves the darkness rather than the Light of Jesus Christ. 

It's an additional level when those you deal with on a daily basis aren't saved and not only that spit in the face of God. Making a mockery of those who do in how they treat them. Making a mockery of what God intended for them in life to boot.

Ready to make a defense often means just being ready because if we aren't we will be caught broadside by what happens next. 

Some of what I was reading this week had to do with how we as Christians live our lives with respect to how those either weaker in the faith are or when we're around the unbelieving might take what they see us doing. 

Yes those are real concerns to be had for Believers.  

 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." Romans 12:9-13.

We aren't to conspire to add our own flavor of judgment into our interactions with others.

I don't want my preconceived notions to flavor my meeting either. 

Read a meme the other day of someone saying they're still wrestling in their head concerning an argument with someone from several days earlier and now they think that they have them on the ropes. 

We can often make matters worse if we're consumed with what-if's.

I know enough at this stage of life and probably have seen enough to know how quickly unbelievers can twist our words.  

Ironically they often start with questions...much as Satan did with Adam and Eve, and with Jesus. 

I don't need to prepare a defense, but to just be ready.  

We will find opposition in living for Jesus. The Bible says that those who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus are going to have trouble. 

Being ready is part of it.

Being in prayer concerning it comes next.  

Another scheme of Satan is to induce anxiety. Paul wrestled with anxiety. Knowing it could be coming helps to prepare for it.

The battlefield is of the mind. The helmet of salvation, the Word of God, protects the mind. I suppose if the soul were housed anywhere in a body this too would be the place. 

Being in the Word of God consistently comes next. 

That which feeds the soul must be fed and fed properly. 

I have no doubts or fears concerning this next week's meeting. I know that Jesus is already there. That's something I figure Satan got a severe hatred of. That he cannot know the future. 

He knows how to manipulate to try for a future he wants but he can't know that future. 

He cannot read the minds of Believers. 

He cannot know the mind of Jesus either.  

When you read the book of Psalms you also find David's anxieties written out.  

Most know that passage where we're told to be anxious for nothing.

"Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

There's that element of the helmet of salvation in that passage. Guarding your mind.

You may be facing things this week that you feel that only you are going through. If indeed you have Jesus as your Savior and Lord, no you're not alone. Wherever you are, He was always already there first.

We were brought up to not seek a fight. This is found in the principles of Godly living. 

But we were taught to stand up for what is right...and if you must fight...win.  

Often I have had to remind myself and others that if God brought you to it, He'll see you through it. 

History proves this throughout the Bible. 

Pray on, pray over, pray through whatever you're facing in life. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.