I received a text from a friend this morning with a Bible verse and a word of encouragement. The scripture was Romans 5:3-4. They were talking about prayer and how when things are going good and life is easy that we don’t always take the time to pray—you know, real knee bending, heart aching, soul searching prayer. But boy let things turn around and put you in a tough situation. You bend those knees, empty that heart and bare your soul to God.
I’ve been there. Talking to God and taking advantage of your relationship with Him will have prayer coming hard and fast when you or someone you love are facing difficult circumstances. You’ll pray with fervor, ask others to pray, search the Scriptures for God’s promises, ask others to pray, get on your face before God…. ask others to pray.
On the other hand, when you are gliding along in life and there are no bumps or bruises for you or the ones you love, sometimes it is a different picture. Even though you have a good relationship with God, it seems different when there is no urgency. Our prayers can become lackadaisical. When others are frantically praying and reaching out for you to pray, are you as frantic for them as you are for yourself?
We should always take advantage of our proximity to God and use that closeness to Him to pray on good days and on not as good days.
Romans 5:1-5 is a good reference for why we should cultivate a strong prayer life. It tells us we have been justified by faith and God has given us peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our peace does not always make sense to the world, but it is there within our relationship to God. It is by our faith that we have hope through Christ to get through good and bad times.
It is not only the big glories of our life with God that we rejoice in, but we also triumph through the distresses that we experience; because we know that these distresses will eventually bring us patience. These distresses are also some of the most fertile soil for learning what prayer really is.
The ups and downs have a reason, especially the downs that help develop patience (or tolerance.) This will lead to experience (or familiarity.) Once we have experience, it will lead to hope (or optimism.) Then it continues, for once we have hope and optimism, it causes us to become confident. With the confidence of God, we can get through any situation.
The challenge for Christ followers in this passage could be to continually accept the fact that our circumstance is sometimes difficult to grasp. Yes, we are in a relationship with Christ whereby God calls us already holy and complete. But at the same time, we are in a continual growth process to become more like Christ and trying to take on His characteristics while living in a sinful world and facing earthly struggles every day. Keeping up our communication (or prayer) life can be challenging. We should face that challenge head on.
How can we apply this passage to our lives? With our immediate access to God, (He really is a breath away!) we can take care of any business with Him immediately. Acknowledge our sin and struggles. Make a conscious effort to grow spiritually through our struggles. Know, that as an athlete gains endurance by stretching and working their muscles, we must also stretch and work to strengthen our spiritual life in Christ by spending time in His Word and through prayer.
What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthened by the knowledge that because Christ died on the cross for my sins, I can be strengthen in faith, knowledge and love with the assurance of my salvation ever in site. I can come to Christ in prayer at any moment and open my heart and soul to Him.
Lord, thank You for caring for me through the good times and the bad times. Help me to seek You in both the good times and the bad times. Help me to be thankful to You no matter which state I am in. Help me to truly allow prayer to illuminate my whole life!
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“1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:1-5 (KJV)
“Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.“ Ephesians 3:13 (KJV)
“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” Philippians 1:29 (KJV)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV)
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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about Him.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ! PeaceWithGod.net
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Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 