The Everyday Prayer

As I write this I am sitting in my daughter’s apartment waiting to depart for my first Texas A&M football game. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation here; the whole town is reading itself for a battle. This is not unlike Paul’s urgent commands in Ephesians 6-“Don’t take the enemy for granted; get dressed for battle every single day!”

The difference between A&M football game day, and life of the church in the world is certainty. Whereas the A&M fan is uncertain of the day’s outcome, we are more than certain that Jesus has already won today’s battle!

Live battle ready! Live with certainty!

Oh, and super sorry for the late-in-the day post. This dad was just super excited to get his daughter in College Station.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17(day five)  Is this passage humbling to you?  It is for me. We live in a culture and society that is unhealthily self sufficient and self relying. Think about how many times when people ask us if we need help, assistance, or aid we answer with the following responses- “I got this” or “I’m good”. Often times, they’re asking because they see us struggling or see the difficulty we are actually facing (sometimes we don’t even know it). We try to either make it on our own, or get by with as little help as possible.

I was struck this week by how comprehensive and well rounded the armor of God is. It is not minimal at all.  It is thorough, from top to bottom. Why?  Because we (I) really are in need of that much and those kinds of help.   We actually are that incapable. We are in fact (on our own) weak, overmatched, and unable to even just stand firm. God gives us this complete and amazing “armor” because we really do need it.  In essence, our disobedience, pride, and unfaithfulness is telling God,  “I got this” or “I’m good”.  How foolish does that seem?  May God find us willing to put on His whole armor and find the strength and assurance we so desperately need.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day four)

When we read verse 12, it’s easy to imagine the “authorities of the unseen world” and “evil spirits in heavenly places” like something out of a paranormal horror movie. To be sure, there are horribly dark and evil things that occur in this world. However, I think a lot of the spiritual warfare we experience is more subtle, and more insidious than that.

When we believe lies that parade around as truth, when we allow apathy to creep in, when we are blinded by pride, when we allow a sinful habit to take hold – these are also the realities of spiritual warfare. But before we are overcome by fear at how present these things seem, Paul reminds us – we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness, we’ve been given the armor of God.

It is a powerful thing to pray the armor of God over yourself, your spouse, your friends, and your children. It is impenetrable, fashioned by the God of the universe, and stronger than anything we may face.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day three)

“…and having done everything, to stand firm.”

It’s important that you still stand after everything that has come against you. Why? Because when something attempts to take your voice, your presence, your worth, that is an offensive attempt to undo what God made when he made you. If there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need not repent, then assuredly there is more rejoicing in heaven over one person whose light has not been extinguished than over ninety-nine who were never under threat. When the Spirit equips a person with the armor of God, this isn’t a mere exercise in getting the answers right in a Bible study. This is a provision for strength in the face of everyone who has ever shut you out, forgotten you, or neglected to treasure you.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day two) 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. v. 10

Paul’s final exhortation to the Ephesians is to get ready for the coming days. Whether from without or within, there will be conflict and struggle. He also give a not so subtle reminder that to be strong is to allow the Lord to go before you. It is not your strength, it is his. Time spent in prayer, scripture, all doctrine point to the author and perfecter of our faith. These images of armor can give a false impression that we are fighting. The Lord fights for us. We are called to be his ambassadors and we are the conduits for the Spirit on earth, but every piece of armor that we put on is evidence of his protection for those he loves. Be strong and courageous. Arm yourself well with the strength of the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:15-21 (day seven)

making the most of your time. Vs 16

I love reading scripture in different translations. Here are some of my favorites of the week:

Making the best use of the time (ESV)

Make the most of every opportunity (NLT)

Redeeming the time (NKJV)

What becomes abundantly clear through these differing translations is that we, as children of the light, have been called by God to make the most of the opportunities we have been given. This is not a call to programming. We have a tendency to think that “making the most of our time” means that we need to do more, so we proceed to cram our schedule with things that we perceive will help us make the most of time. Yet, this passage takes a different route. He is calling us to take the moments that arise in a given day, those that are dark, bleak or even uneventful, and redeem them. Take the moments where the enemy is trying to push forward the darkness and shine the Light back into it. “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” How can you redeem the moments and opportunities that will come up today?

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:15-21(day six)

The Holy Spirit always leads his children into mindfulness, the presence of mind to live for Jesus daily. That’s why Paul says, “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

To be filled with the Spirit is not a mindless experience (like magic) but the movement of Christ from the periphery to the center of your life by the power of the Spirit. To put it more concretely, being filled with the Spirit means seeing and following Jesus in all life. The Spirit of God does this by helping us see Jesus. We cannot have the presence of mind to live for Christ daily if we cannot see him; the Holy Spirit ensures we do (John 16:13-16).

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:15-21(day five)

In a culture and climate where we are often tempted and encouraged to keep our faith personal and private, the scriptures point to a different approach. Even with a subject so deeply intense and unique to each believer (being filled with the Spirit), Paul encourages and prescribes an outward response and evidence of the work of the Spirit. It’s found two times after he says, “Be filled with the Spirit.”  “One Another”. There is this sense in our Re:Verse passage of genuine interaction and community. Speaking and singing to and with one another- vs 19. Serving and submitting to and with one another- vs 21. We are filled in and for genuine community.

As the Spirit fills us, may we joyfully encourage and submit to one another with our speech, our songs, and our service.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:15-21 (day four)

One of my favorite professors in seminary taught a class on worship. He shared a thought in that class that has stuck with me ever since: in the gathered worship service, for some that are present, it took all they had just to get through the door. Life’s hardships have become too much to raise their voice, but they sought the presence of Jesus and got through the door. For the rest of us, whether we know their hardships or not, we sing on their behalf. Our song of praise lifts them up and wraps them in love as they seek the Spirit’s presence.

There will also be days where the roles are reversed. Where we give our last bit of strength to simply get through the door on a Sunday morning. But the song of those around us ministers to us and lifts us up. They sing on our behalf. I know I have had days like this, and the sound of the congregation’s singing carried me into the presence of God.

Paul isn’t being cute here when he tells us to sing. He knows that this is one of the ways the body of Christ can minister to one another. Our song to the Lord is also a ministry to our neighbor.