I had an altogether different agenda for work this afternoon with no plans to blog but the Holy Spirit is stirring something in me with such force that I don’t want to resist it.
The word setting fire to my heart this moment is Colossians 4:2 –
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Nothing is going to sound new or fresh in what I’m about to say because we’ve all heard it over and over again but sometimes it’s a timing thing. In other words, we’ve heard something a million times but all the sudden, with explanations known to God alone, the thing clicks and the breakthrough comes.
Here goes:
WE’VE GOT TO PRAY.
WE’VE GOT TO BECOME PEOPLE OF PRAYER.
WE’VE GOT TO PRESS IN MUCH FURTHER AND BELIEVE GOD TO BE MUCH BIGGER.
WE’VE GOT TO CEASE LETTING PRAYER BE OUR WEAKEST SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.
WE’VE GOT TO STEP IT UP AND WIELD THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT IN RELENTLESS INTERCESSION.
WE’VE GOT TO GO FURTHER THAN WE’VE GONE BEFORE IN PRAYER. PRESS HARDER. THINK HIGHER. DIG OUR KNEES IN DEEPER.
WE WILL NOT LIVE BOLDER THAN WE PRAY.
THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR CALLINGS, WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND DEFEATS OF THE DARKNESS THAT WILL COME NO OTHER WAY THAN FURIOUS, FERVENT, FAITH-FILLED, UNCEASING PRAYER.
It’s time we quit falling asleep in prayer. It’s time we quit practicing a prayer routine that bores us to tears. It’s time our quiet times ceased to be quiet. There are battles to be won. Works to be done. The kinds which only come through prayer, prayer, and more prayer.
It’s time we quit depending on someone else to do it for us.
It’s time for each of us to see in the mirror one of the most powerful people of prayer we may ever meet.
It’s time we prayed like we believed the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, was right in our very presence. Because He is.
This is what Colossians 4:2 says:
Continue steadfastly in prayer.
Don’t give up several days in. Don’t get all whiny. Don’t get all offended because God doesn’t appear to answer right away. Persevere. Keep praying. Keep believing. There are muscles God means to strengthen. It’s about the means as much as the end. Did God clearly promise in His Word what you are asking for? Then do not shrink back. Or is there a precedent in Scripture for what you’re asking in prayer? Then keep telling Him what it is, asking Him if He’d be glorified in granting your request and, if not, to remove or quiet your desire.
Persist. That’s what Luke 11:5-10 and 18:1-8 are all about.
We are warriors. Victors. More than overcomers. Bloody and bruised, we still get back up. Lip busted, we open back up our mouths – this time the louder – and call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised and so shall we be saved from our enemies. (Psalm 18:3)
Being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
This is key. We’ve got to keep our eyes wide open. We can close our eyes during prayer if we need to but then, for crying out loud, let’s get those things open and let God see the whites of our eyes, ready and watchful. Let’s expect something, for Heaven’s sake. Jesus promised us in John 5:17 that God is always at work. When we get a glimpse of His activity or the slightest hint of answered prayer, let’s thank Him for it right then and there. For instance, have you been praying for someone dear to you to be set free from an area of tremendous bondage? While you wait for the huge breakthrough, can you see any glimpses that God is at work? Then thank Him for it. Applaud Him. Like Elijah who knew it was going to rain the moment he saw a cloud the size of a man’s fist, believe with all your heart that He who began a good work WILL be faithful to complete it.
We can be so preoccupied looking to the horizon for the huge thing that we miss the glorious mosaic of a hundred scattered pieces of answered prayer right at our feet. God is rarely up to only one thing. Our nature is to look for the big finish. His is to call us into constant and daily communion, working through every circumstance, tweaking and turning and tying and telling. He’s teaching our tongues the art of tasting in a world trained to binge.
We’re looking for the string of pearls. He’s planting one pearl here. Another pearl there. The full stretch of our lifetime is the string. We won’t see how those jewels all came together on the one strand until we study them under the light of His glorious presence. In the meantime, let’s ask God to make us alert and give us eyes to see where He’s working on the way to the divine achievement we’re longing for. And let’s respond with hearts full of gratitude and mouths full of praise.
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
The Apostle Paul’s next words represent a concept that is crucial to the well-being of our souls. Colossians 4:3 –
At the same time, pray also for us…
At the same time we are praying and watching and waiting, we will be vastly helped and blessed and connected by praying fervently for other people. Intercession for others becomes a guard against the narcissism of this present culture seeping right through the screen door of our prayer closets. A stunning number of Christians don’t believe in praying for themselves at all. Others have global vision the length of their noses and don’t believe in praying for anyone besides themselves. The counsel of the Scriptures is to pray for others and to pray for ourselves.
But, for the love of God, PRAY.
There is no other way.
We’ve got to wake up and pray.
In Jesus’ Name.
Like those who believe He hears.
Satan wants you to quit praying. He wants you to believe God isn’t paying one whit of attention to you. That He’s moved on without you. That you don’t matter. There’s only one thing to do with that. Pray twice as much. With twice the faith. And a thousand times the thanks.
Get up and pray.
We’ve got one shot at this earthly life. Good Lord, let’s make it count.
Powerful, Powerful post!!!
Thank you, Beth, for this powerful and convicting word. Our church has currently embarked on a 40-day prayer initiative and awesome things are coming out of it. I KNOW I needed to hear this.
Beth – I’m still mulling this amazing post over today. When I saw your tweet and then read your blog, my heart pounded too because that verse was my SSMT verse this go round.
I copied and pasted this in so you could see comment #492 at 10:40 AM)!
492
Jan Morton says:
February 1, 2015 at 10:40 am
Jan Morton
Hawkinsville, GA
Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer,
being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Thank you for your writing and sensitivity and call to prayer. My favorite part is “it’s time our quiet times ceased being quiet.” Yes and Amen.
Here is my personal blog (Gran Jan’s JOY) post from Sunday too:
http://granjansjoy.com/2015/02/scripture-memory-team-verse-3-february-1-2015/
Thank you again. I love and respect you so much!
GJ
Wow – I so needed to hear this today. I have been praying faithfully but have been getting discouraged lately. Endurance is a must for me in the things I am praying to see happen. Faith is a muscle to develop as well – to believe in the things we do not see right now – thanksgiving for what we know God will accomplish in us and through us by His word. Amen! Thank you Beth for the reminder!
God’s timing is awesome. Thanks for being faithful to Holy Spirit. What an encouragement, I’ll pass it on.
Thank you.
That is my Feb 1st SSMT verse! I was cautioned recently to be careful about how I pray intercedingly. That I could open up something I’m not equipped for. That even the arch angel doesn’t pray directly against the enemy but says “the Lord rebuke you”. That caution scared me into thinking I don’t know what I’m doing. Now that you mentioned my verse back at me multiple times in this post I think God is saying quit trembling and get back out there boldly…. Maybe? I just don’t know what not to do when praying for others and against an attack
Amen and Amen! God answered one of my most fervent prayers (of 15 years) at the 10 year mark (to be a mom), but I didn’t see or know the answer until year 15! At year 10, my daughter was conceived…and I met her (and her brothers) at year 15!! AND GOD is so AWESOME that He took us from 0 kids to 5 kids in 2 years!!!
Keep praying, asking, talking and thanking. HE is faithful!
Hallelujah!!
Amen!
Thank you Beth I know that the Holy Spirit is moving that message more and more; we have stopped and we must continue on. I sometimes wonder why is know one praying anymore (groups) then your message and here are response from others saying yes to the calling. AMEN. This is a time to dig or knees in and not stop even when it appears victory is not ours; we/I forget we already have it in Jesus Christ!! Thank You Beth for your wisdom and discernment.
Wow! I stopped what I was doing to read your email post and felt this punch! (Sort of like the “I could have had a V8 🙂 )Prayer is our most powerful tool in our arsenal against Satan. Thank you for such a timely reminder. My post of Jan. 15th was Romans 12:12 ESV “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer”. I’m with you sisters!
I was just journaling about this very thing! Well, not exactly about prayer, but about seeing. How gratitude comes from a place of seeing. How my eyes must come awake to who God is, and my heart must take the leap of faith to believe who he is for me, despite my circumstances. How I can’t remain cynical and believe God’s great love and favor and kindness towards me. Sooner or maybe later I must decide whether I’m going to trust Jesus despite his apparent (only to my sight!) absence, or believe that perhaps the “evidence” of his absence simply means that I do not fully understand. Or yet fully see. God inhabits the praises of his people. And in his presence is fullness of joy. I’m encouraged to keep on praying for the thing I so desire, and I think he desires for me, and to trust his good heart in the waiting.
Thank you for writing this powerful message….I am stirred beyond words. Today is the day of change for me. Praying and believing like never before!!!
Digging in deep, Janet
Timing. God has been pleading with me to enter into a more fervent prayer relationship with Him. I have been resisting, though I’m not sure why. I needed to read this today! Thank you.
He’s an on-time God, and this is an on-time word for many, I suspect (including myself!)
Oh oh oh! This came at the perfect time. My prayer group and I have been praying together for 5 years now but for a lot of reasons we started the year with a 40 day fast and renewed prayer . We have already seen God work through our efforts and are so grateful but as we end this 40 day season Monday this was just a reminder we are not done . Thank you for your timing
YES!!! About a year ago The Lord impressed on my heart that He was calling me to begin something new. After several months of praying and arguing with Him over what it would be/look like He made it abundantly clear-I was to gather women to pray. So we’ve gathered on the first Monday of the month for 2 hours since November. Different ladies have come, but all have left refreshed by the Spirit and in awe at how two hours of prayer can pass by so quickly. My preacher-husband also got me Timothy Keller’s new book “Prayer” for Christmas and I’m working through it. I’ve only made it through the first few chapters, but it is so good and I really feel like it will help me and those around me awaken to the simplicity and enormous power in prayer. Thank you for this post. I agree wholeheartedly!
Walking in His grace,
Audrey
I have felt very strongly that this is a gift God has given me. I also have a 4 year old, a 2 year old, a somewhat needy husband(whom I love very much) & I am pregnant. Besides the normal laundry, house cleaing, cooking, dishes, etc. there is of course a whole other batch of craziness in my life (Good craziness that makes you feel alive and makes life worth living). To help keep me on track I purchased a ring with an infinity symbol ($5 including shipping. Nothing fancy & it hasn’t turned my finger green since I have been wearing it constantly for about 9ish months) Feeling it and seeing it reminds me to pray without ceasing. I am a stay at home mom and we live on a very strict budget. I opened a spreadsheet and listed EVERYONE in my life. Old and new. The second column is blank for concerns. I have sections for family, friends, the ministy teams at our church, missionaries, government, etc. I only reprint it once a year. There are blank lines to add people. I have pages of notebook paper for a praise section when prayers are answer or for special events (the church youth going on a missions trip). I have verses I run to pray over certain concerns (healing, finances, marriage renewal, etc) I printed out maps of the world for free and put post its on a country with concerns that come on the news. It was very inexpensive and helps keep my OCD/adult ADD butt in order. It is in a 3 ring binder. I open it and lay it out in the morning and as I walk by thru out the day I just take my hand over it, and start praying for the list on that page. I have seen many healings, blessings, and turn around since I started. It excites me to keep it going. Just a few suggestions to help someone get started.
YES. In agreement, wholeheartedly.
Had a conversation recently with a 29 yr old Christian gal who teaches Social Studies and World Events in HS. In that context I shared how ignorant I am about so many things but try my best to keep up with current news as much as possible. And that 5 months ago God began to burden my heart terribly for the ebola victims and the ISIS situation, and the persecution of the Church worldwide. I told her how I had passionately been praying for theses things. How i felt the Lord’s heavy hand on me to pray on their behalf, believing He IS at work. How I wanted to see God’s glory and God’s intervention in these matters. To which she responded that she thought I must have the gift of intercession. Surprised by that, I responded, ” No, I don’t think so. I think we ALL have a calling to pray for what God burdens us for. It isn’t that I WANTED to take time and pray for these things and others, but that I just couldn’t NOT do it. My spirit just would not let me let it go. I believe we MUST respond in prayer. ALL of us.” He is calling us to engage with Him through prayer. And I wish I understood just what a privilege it is, in all my inadequacies. But He bids me to. I am learning this, too.
Yes! “enter oftener the banqueting-house of His love”
http://www.heartlight.org/spurgeon/0102-am.html
Yes, Ma’am <3 … in fear and trembling…. Philippians 2:12 <3
This was meant for me today . . . thank you for obeying the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
Thank you, Beth. Great word and much needed.
Hope you don’t mind I am taking your blog to jail ministry tonight. They are hungry for the real deal!
Beth, thank you for this listening to the Holy Spirit and writing this powerful post. How I needed to hear these words.
Oh Beth….I’m sure I’ve thought this before but sister…that was the BEST post! I’m amening and nodding and smiling and saying “yes” as I read every single sentence. OH LORD JESUS let’s pray and believe Him for the unbelievable!
This is such good stuff. Thank you! Let’s be women Satan will REGRET the day he ever messed with us!!!
Thank you for writing this. Thank you for speaking powerful truth over us. Thank you for increasing our faith and stirring up the dirt under our feet when they get tired.
So much love,
Fran
Amen and AMEN!!!
Beth, I hear you loud and clear! The last 2 years, I have felt that urge to pray more, and I stepped it up. Today, I will commit to praying even more urgently every day. Thank you, Beth, for telling us what the Holy Spirit put in your heart. I am going to read your post 1 more time, then I will pray fervently! –Janet
My sisters and I are camped out in the hospice wing of the hospital. My precious aunt that took over when our mother passed away as mama to us is very close to crossing over. I have an active prayer life and I have seen my Lord do amazing things in my life. But sometimes you don’t even have words. I pray for Him to continue to carry our aunt and our family. I also pray for the many on this hall that are facing death.
This post made me think about the SSMT verse I did on Feb 1st. I started to put in Matt 21: 21-22 but I only posted verse 22 and I thought it was incomplete then and now this blog post stirred my heart. So now I am going back in and re-post (smile) with verse 21 & 22. Thanks Beth. Prayer is powerful and can change things. But I am also learning from the Daniel study I am in right now that sometimes God will take us around the situation, walk with us through the situation or we will be delivered right into his arms. God is faithful and prayer should be a non-negotiable; no brainer for me. I am working on it, so thank you for the reminder of the importance of Prayer. Be Blessed.
I haven’t read your blog for a while, but a fellow warrior called me and said you better check our Beth’s blog if you haven’t already, we have been concentrating on praying and on the Holy Spirit and WOWOWOWOWOW!! Thank you Thank you!! It is time to get bloody and bruised and to never ever stay silent. To God be the GLORY!! Praise HIM to the storm, in the Storm, thru the Storm!!
I agree totally, Beth. I’ve prayed too many puny prayers. I want to pray robust prayers and keep praying them! I will call on the Lord. I will cry out to him. I know he hears!
Love you, Lynn
Needed this today so that I could encourage a sister in Christ. Thank you!
AMEN!!! Yes, we need to wake up! Can we not keep watch with Him for one hour? (Matt 26:40) And we need to grab another sister and pray together! God’s Word calls us to corporate prayer! Some breakthroughs only happen when 2 or more gather together in His Name. Prayer is the answer! Love this word of encouragement!! Thank you Beth!
Oh, Beth, I have been questioning lately what my calling is and I hear and sense from the Lord that I am to pray. Then I sometimes think “is that all”? Oh, I needed to hear your words telling me it is exactly what He wants. I LOVE to pray, by myself, with others, quietly and LOUDLY. Praise the LORD for all he is doing!!! Thanks for confirming what every one of us needs to hear and be encouraged in.
Beth, The workshop I attended this weekend was titled the Sailboat Church, a book by Joan Gray. The basic idea is that we have lost the fervor and prayer life of the churches in Acts. That prayer for them was all the time about all things. That when they prayed the Holy Spirit helped them, like the wind helps a sailboat. I am not doing this justice but the core idea was a call to return to prayer… not rote prayer but deep honest prayer knowing that God is ready to unleash the Holy Spirit to guide us, help us, lead us. But essential to this is OUR putting prayer of thanks and praise first, before we do anything. Really it doesn’t sound hard but of course, it is. I am excited to see you call us to prayer. Makes me think that the Spirit is alive and well and filling us with the breath of God, to breathe life into our prayers,lives, and communities. Thank you for taking the time to catch our attention.
Amen! Amen! and Amen! Glory to God in the Highest!
Thank you for confirming what the Lord has spoken into my life!
Blessings to you and your family!
“WE WILL NOT LIVE BOLDER THAN WE PRAY.
THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR CALLINGS, WORKS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND DEFEATS OF THE DARKNESS THAT WILL COME NO OTHER WAY THAN FURIOUS, FERVENT, FAITH-FILLED, UNCEASING PRAYER.”
This whole post was a powerful reminder to keep pressing in, keep trusting, keep believing, keep holding on to the promises of God. But these two lines spoke right into my tired and weary heart. Thank you, Beth. : )
AMEN, AMEN, AND AMEN!!!!
As a praying Grandma this resonated in my heart. I have felt a strong call to be more proactive in intercessory prayer. Thank you so much for this confirmation. Thanks for being obedient to His Holy Spirit. I so needed to hear this.
This was my SSMT verse for Jan 15. I chose it to remind myself of all the things you said in the post (well, maybe not exactly). Thank you for another gentle swift kick in the rear end. I want my prayer life to be vibrant, meaningful and constant. I want it to change my life and heart.
Thank you, Beth, for listening to the Holy Spirit with your writing yesterday. It’s as if you have read my thoughts and my heart. God has spoken directly to me thru you, and I WILL continue to pray without ceasing. God is SO good to put the right people, the right words, and the right scripture right in my face. God bless you.
Thanks so much, Beth. Really appreciate this today!!!! You are a blessing and your words are so very true! God has blessed you with such a gift. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Love and s big hug,
Maryjo
Confirming Word to so many of us! “The Power of Prayer” is one of the Bible Study options the Lord prompted us to do this winter.
Thank you for writing this today Beth! I have read it three times already. God has been teaching me about how I need to humble myself before Him and bring every area of my life under His authority by praying on my knees. He is teaching me to listen to Him more. This topic has been heavy on my heart all week. Thankful for the way God used it to encourage a very discouraged heart today.
Beth, thank you for being obedient about your blog post. I know that was for me. I have had a couple of heavy burdens that I just wanted to give up on. I know this was God telling me to not give up but pray harder and expect answers.
Amen, sister. Sometimes I fear is silly, if not impossible. Thank you for the impetus to keep praying anyway!
Okay. I would try to explain to you how perfect this is this very morning but it’d take more words and time than you or I have. All I can say is this it PERFECT. RIGHT. NOW. Thank you from the depths of my heart for your timely response to His prompts. It’s always right on.
Oh Beth. What a powerful post! God was speaking through you to me. ((AND apparently a few other people!) :-). You are so right about thanking Him for the glimpses that He is at work. I love you and thank you for your faithfulness to speak His truth.
I get it, Beth. For the first time in my 30 years as a follower of Jesus, I get it. Due to life circumstances that have turned my life and my precious family completely upside down, due to circumstances beyond my control that have ripped us apart… I finally get every word you spoke.
God is so faithful and loving. He is my protector, my rescuer, my fortress, my hope, my love. He only desires my complete surrender and my praises to him. Through those two chosen acts, He displays the miraculous in my life. I stand amazed. I pray it never ends. I hope he helps me hold him close and praise his name for the rest of my days.
Thank you for your boldness, bravery… Thank you for loving God and his children. Thank you for sharing these beautiful and truthful words. God’s blessings on you and the ministry he has through you!