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Appointment With the King
What type of hindrances or stumblingblocks have you battled to protect your prayer time? Satan strategically targets us with distractions, excuses and fears- especially when we desire and need to seek the face of the King of Kings.
PRAYER
Tina J Cole
8/10/20264 min read
Our prayer time is a prime target of the enemy of our souls. And he has different tactics-depending on the person and situation-to accomplish his evil plan. Below is a short list of the main tricks that Satan will attempt to use to hinder and ultimately stop our commitment to Jesus, our Lord and King.
DOUBT-
Just as the enemy tempted Eve to doubt God's goodness and truth, he still uses it today. Why? Because it often works. So he continues to try it on God's people. But, if we feed on the truth in God's Word-every day-we can stay strong in our relationship with Jesus. When he walked on earth in human flesh, Jesus commited himself to the priority of praying continually. James 4:8 tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
Doubt of God-and ourselves-can come through intrusive thoughts from Satan. Jesus' voice will help us to be calm; the enemy's voice will cause us to obsess. Jesus' voice comforts us; Satan's voice worries us. In place of wallowing in our doubts we need to cry out to Jesus like this:
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Mark 9:24
FEAR-
We can allow fear to keep us from seeking God in prayer. I'm referring to the kind that torments us because we've sinned and feel the guilt and the shame from it. Jesus' voice will convict; the enemy's will condemn. Jesus' voice comforts us; Satan's voice worries us. II Timothy 1:7 tells us- For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Instead of avoiding or running from God, we need to run to him in total surrender, asking forgiveness. He doesn't want us to cower before him in fear. But Jesus is our high priest and has compassion for us in our infirmities and weaknesses. He longs for us to 'come boldy to the throne of grace' and receive mercy when we need it. (Hebrews 4:15, 16)
There is no fear in love, but perfect(complete)love casts out fear. For fear has torment (has to do with punishment) and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
I John 4:18
INDIFFERENCE-
Do you have a lack of concern, or motivation? Do the world's attractions cause many distractions for you? Are you more interested in keeping up with the latest news cycle, celebrity event, or gossip, from or about your neighbor?
Maybe the pain, disappointment, and discouragement you've experienced throughout life-because of the feeling of being ignored or unheard-has built up an apathetic stronghold in your heart and mind. Perhaps you've accepted the lie that God doesn't listen to your prayers because he doesn't care. I Peter 3:12 teaches us that His ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. But Psalm 66:18 reminds us - If I regard iniquity(idolatry, vanity, wickedness) in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
Do you feel numb or empty most of the time? If you are lacking or suppressing emotions, your indifference may be a defense mechanism. Take it to Jesus. He will help you heal from it and be free.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:11
SELFISHNESS-
If we continue to allow thoughts and feelings that don't submit to the truth of God and His Word, then selfishness will overtake our minds and lives. We are called, as faithful believers of Jesus Christ, to deny ourselves and take up our cross. Yes, we will suffer for his name sake too. Yet, what we sacrifice for Jesus cannot compare to what we will gain when we endure to the end.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(Galatians 5:22-26)
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:2-7
Remember the prayers you've prayed that God answered later in your faith walk. Bring them to mind. Aren't you presently living in some of those blessings today? Jesus is faithful to us. Pray so that you can always be faithful to Him.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
I John 5:14, 15
