In the picture above, Henry Ossawa Tanner depicts a elderly man and a young boy sitting with heads bowed. The room is simple, the table is sparse with little if any food, yet these warriors of prayer are thankful for even the little they have.
A warrior prays, believes, and gives thanks as if it is already received. Accepting in all certainty that God is faithful. We trust Him for guidance when we cannot see what lies ahead. Not knowing what will be but believing it will work out for our good. Then in all absolute confidence, we can give thanks.
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise they glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:13
My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me
Prayer Warrior Hears His Voice
Amidst all the noise and clattering of words, there are many voices to be heard. The good voice that gives advice and comfort in a time of need. The kind voice that claims all is well. The angry voice that disputes a wrong. Then, the vengeful voice that demands dark justice. Strange voices are heard far too often, and yet above their deafening cacophony, His voice rings strong and sure in the ears of His children. Those who are not His, have no ears to hear, no hands to lift in praise and no heart to understand the whispering surety of his words. Words that call out to us in the day, in the night, so many times loud and clear, enough to drown the noise into silence. And we know his voice when we listen for its tonality, its texture, and its vernacular, a dialect belonging solely to him. A gentle sound saying, “You, child of mine, come, and let us two go forward.”
And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, this is the way, walk you in it when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation.
Prayer Warrior Watches
Be on the alert. As we wait for Him to answer, to accept our praise, our thanksgiving, we are to watch for Him, to look to Him. Not waiting with anxiety but remaining positive. There should be anticipation in our eyes and our words as we talk with him. He is our friend, our guide, our master. Not to be commanded by us. Not to be persuaded by well-designed words. He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities and knows all things. Thus, he cannot deny himself the compassion he has for his children. Knowing this, we need to wait in simple faith and take heed. Lest a little slumber, a little sleep our confidence begins to dwindle in quietness. Our eyes can skip off from him. Temptation can loom large before our sight with the lazy smile of seduction. Without a doubt, we can slip, lose our stance and stumble headlong into the trap of the enemy. Best to remain vigilant with our eyes fixed on Him, always alert and on the lookout knowing with all confidence and certainty, he answers all our prayers.
Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
In a world burning with triviality and desires for instant gratification, cultivating patience is an impossible feat. This virtue requires discipline, self-restraint, and grace which comes from God. Some may advise praying for patience. If there is weakness, impressionability, floundering in the wake of tribulation or anxiety within the mind, asking for patience adds frustration and compounds the feelings of impatience. However, asking for strength to endure the waiting gives us strength. Strength, when there is no accommodation, stripped of every goal, weary of treading multiple avenues without accomplishment, leads to a dependence on Him which is priceless. He is the only one who can dispense strength freely. He is our strength and with him comes the great escape. Best to ask for strength to endure. Understanding to see what he has for each of us. Hearing to listen to his voice as he gives instructions. He speaks today loud and clear just like in times of old. He isn’t a joker doling riddles that need to be solved before a prize can be won. There isn’t a code to be broken, no game to complete. The Lord has already paid the price for everything. And everything he has is ours to enjoy abundantly. (The cattle on a thousand hills are his. Psalm 50:10) Things work out differently than expected, nevertheless, with the Lord on our side things work out beyond what we think or imagine, and we can be satisfied. His strength helps the waiting period fly by.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1: 3 and 4
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Romans 12:12
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Proverbs 7:8
But will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
To believe is to trust God. Unbelief is a lack of confidence in God, a sign of unfaithfulness, mistrust, and the absence of obedience. How can we say, we love God if we have no faith in him? How can we say we follow God when deep down we think he may fail? Do we understand what it means to believe, to be all in no matter the circumstance? Can we hear that still, small voice saying, hold on my child only believe? A Prayer Warrior accepts God at his word with nothing doubting. Trusting God where He cannot be traced.
– Georgiana Feddoes
Jesus said, And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing you shall receive. Matthew 21:22
Though situations seem dyer where there are no alterations, no changes.
It matters not. A good warrior must keep moving forward, keep pressing onward.
Have no fear, soon the clouds will part.
The path will become clear, the footing will grow smooth and solid.
Then the light of hope will break forth to blaze in the face of many adversities.
Only, hold the line.
“Hold the line” is a term that comes from military tactics in which a line of troops was supposed to prevent an enemy breakthrough. – dictionary meaning
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Prayer Warrior’s Prep
Be passionate. Be all in. James 5 verse 16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Not doubting but believing. James 1:6 -8 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (doubting). For he that wavers (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways.
Eyes on our leader. Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
Go aside alone Matthew 6:6 “When you pray enter into your closet and when you shut the door pray to your Father which is in secret.”
Keep it simple. Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray use not vain repetitions.”
Have confidence. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Knowing He hears. 1 John 5:15 “If we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
The Battle is His 1 Samuel 17:47 “And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s.”
Know the battle cry. 1 Samuel 17:45 “I come in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of armies of Israel, whom you have defied…prepare to die.”
All in or nothing. Half-hearted speeches laced with jaundice eyes are nothing more than lies. Words spoke with a forked tongue end the battle before the fighting begins. There is no honor in the bitterness of deception. A pledge taken is more than talk; the bond accepted takes courage to fulfill. The die is cast when a request is promised without hope to commit. There is no luck, no chance in the face of faith. Neither can evil fall at a wishful whim. He is in control. The rules of war are His. His touch revives and strengthens. His eyes guide and sustain. This battle of life is won. The battle is the Lord’s.
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