Updraft

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭5:14-17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Updraft

Living the Christian life in these uncertain days is exceedingly difficult, as every aspect of day coexistence is counter to the word of God. For the follower of Jesus who chooses to cling to the promises of Scripture, there is tremendous external pressure to conform to the mores of the day.

I recall my early days in the Lord where each day was a battle against the sinfulness of the world in which I lived and worked. Everyday was a battle of resistance, as I fought not only the culture, but my flesh which remembered the “fun” I once loved. By Friday, I was longing for Sunday, when I would have the opportunity to fellowship with other believers and find a respite from all the trials and tribulations of the past work week.

I would always mourn on Sunday evening, as the night services and activities came to an end, knowing that the next morning would be spent once again in the battle.

I am thankful for the opportunity we have as followers of Christ to enter the Holy of Holies at will, uplifting prayers to the Father. Jesus paid for our access, His body was rent on the cross, as He died for our sins. His death tore the veil in the temple from top to bottom.

I learned early on run to God, as I was desperate for the change that the Lord would bring. The internal battle within, as the old man vyed with the Holy Spirit was tearing me apart. I also relied on the prayers of my mother. She was my forerunner, my prayer warrior, lifting me up, providing me the updraft I needed to fit above the fray and survive each day.

“And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
James 5:15-16 NKJV

The prayers of a righteous mother avails much.

I learned early on what it meant to pray according to the will of God. In the beginning I prayed to satisfy my appetites, but as time went by, the Lord had begun to place a burden on me for others.

I began to intercede for my fellow Christians. It also changed what I prayed for. I focused on more spiritual things, rather than my basic needs, or the need of others. When I saw people struggling , instead of relief from momentary affliction, I found myself going to the heart of the matter, and praying for salvation. I began see God answer prayers, and more of those prayers were made.

I have found that one of the more pressing needs for prayer is interceding on behalf of people who have begun to fall away from the faith. Often the signs of apostasy are small, easy to miss. It is at the beginning that intercession must begin, as we see a brother or sister sinning, or dong things that indicate sin. It is not a time for confrontation, but prayer.

It is also not a time to gossip about Brother So and So, doing this and that. All too often I have heard busy bodies posing as intercessors, spreading the latest “prayer requests.” Seeing another fail is a call for compassion, and empathy, as we all have the potential to fall. Praying for others is will of God, and the first step in restoration. We must do so gently.

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
Galatians 6:1-4 NKJV

When we pray for others, we are opening a two way communication with the Lord, as God the Father communicates with our hearts, translating His will via His liaison, the Holy Spirit, residing in us. The Holy Spirit is instructing us on how we should pray, so that all our prayers are according to the will of God.

Brothers and sisters, we are in urgent times when we should be praying like never before. Many people are caught in sin, and some are caught up in the unforgivable sin: saying no to the draw of the Holy Spirit unto salvation. That is the sin unto death.

We are to pray for our fellow believers, but let us pray even more for those who are lost. For the is the will of God. Covering everyone in prayer will provide the updraft that we all need to soar high, glorifying the Father and more effectively carrying out our mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

THE PRAYER CHAIR IS OPEN! Send me your requests!

https://www.allaboutgod.com/the-roman-road.htm