Fortified Prayers: Praying Back the Promises of God

Paul writes in Colossians regarding Epaphras’ wrestling prayers for the saints in his letter to the Church of Colosse in Colossians 4:12 (NIV): “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” Standing mature and fully assured in God’s will is a wonderfully, beautiful place to be, Amen? It is also an amazing prayer to pray for ourselves and for all we hold near and dear. God is so loving that He condescends – and even delights - to “stoop down” to listen to the prayers of mere sinful “dust and ashes”. Prayer is also our great duty as it brings heaven down to man. And praying His Word fortifies our prayers as we are praying God’s true Truth and we can be assured that it is God’s will. It also brings God honor and man – amazingly - receives honor from God. Prayer profits us in every condition of life and gives more honor to God by bringing heaven to the soul of mere man.

There remains a plethora of promises for the praying saint. Again, the great Apostle writes in Ephesians 3:20 (NIV): “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” And the One that gives the power gets the glory – right? Further, He who has God has enough. Earthly things can no more fill and sustain a soul than a sailor’s breath can fill a sail. Not going to happen. It is only at His right Hand that eternal treasures are found as Psalms 16:11 (NIV) tells us: “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” His Character enraptures the soul making it desirous to walk as Jesus did. We are called to meditate on His great mercies – all that He has brought us through to this point in our lives – not forgetting His former favors, mercies and goodness to His children. He chronically sends down “showers of blessing” upon those who are His. Indeed, within each life there remains a bundle of mercies as a testimony of His faithfulness to His own. This should stir our souls to gratitude. And gratitude for all His Hand has done should be the proper attitude for every child of the King. Remember as well, God delights to be sought and found. The Prophet Isaiah writes in Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV): “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

When are hearts are broken and we go to Him in prayer with only the language of groans and tears - even in this lamenting - the harps of heaven thrill with music. Our tears are caught and treasured by our Lord. They are bottled and valued as a fragrant sacrifice, pleasing to our God. Effectual prayer can be only the falling of our tears and are instantly noticed and noted in heaven by our Lord Jesus who never forgets the cries of the humble. Prayer is as the saints breathing and Jehovah’s heart opens wide to our deep laments and groans.