In pursuing the call of God on your life, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of developing a consistent prayer life. I mentioned yesterday the importance of praying in the spirit. Let me talk about that a bit more today.
In his book The Charismatic Ministry, Gordon Lindsay states: Those who preach become the favorite targets of Satan, and unless bulwarks are built against him, he will attack them at their weakest point…Consistent prayer builds bulwarks (defensive walls) around the believer against the works of darkness. The enemy’s sword is blunted. His secret plans for mischief are overruled. The cunning traps he sets are un-sprung…A praying man may pass by many dangers and never be aware of them. (1)
We need to remind ourselves constantly that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. The forces are darkness consistently oppose spiritual growth and obedience to the will of God. And prayer invades the spiritual realm, bringing from the Father the power, strength, ability, protection, wisdom, insight, and blessing we need for the day.
Praying in the spirit is bitterly opposed by the enemy because it enhances spiritual perception, and enables you to hear God more clearly. Notice 1 Corinthians 2:11a: For who could really understand a man’s inmost thoughts except the spirit of man himself. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 14:14 (Amplified): For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].
Put these two scriptures together and you can see that when you pray in tongues, you’re praying about things in your life of which only the real you, your human spirit, alone is aware. And because the Holy Spirit dwells in your human spirit, He enables you to pray the will of God into manifestation in your life.
Ideas, unction, desire, and purpose grow in you as you spend time pursuing God and praying in the spirit. Satan’s schemes are stopped, and God’s will is entered into as you pray and obey.
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose (Romans 8:28- Amplified).
Take time today to pray in other tongues. Allow the Spirit of God freedom to help you pray God’s plan into manifestation in your life!
(1) Gordon Lindsay, The Charismatic Ministry ( Dallas, Texas: Christ for the Nations, 1979) p. 19
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