Greater is He...

"The LORD is a Warrior; the Lord is His Name."

---Exodus 15.3

"Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

---Ephesians 6.11

"Put 'em up! Put 'em up! I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back!

---Cowardly Lion, "The Wizard of Oz"

I've never been a prayer warrior. If there's one spiritual discipline I've never understood and even less participated in, it's prayer. It's not that I don't believe in it - "Prayer changes things...Pray without ceasing...". But there always seemed to have been a disconnect between me and God when it came to coming before the throne of grace. I never understood why. I would say my token prayers and leave it at that. No power, no faith, no passion. Blah Blah Blah. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

All that has changed since the Boot Camp. I'm realizing just how vital it is for me to pray and have His power fill me all day. I wrote in an earlier article that I pray the Daily Prayer from John Eldredge. You can download it from the Ransomed Heart website that's linked to the right of this page. I don't just read it and leave it. It seems to springboard me into praying for people, things, my family. I do business with God and I am fully convinced that He hears it and will act upon it. I desperately need Him to, because I'm toast without His full intervention.

Case in point - this past Saturday. We're all swimming at the Sagamore. Having a great time. Rachel and I are in the pool and hot tub together. We're having a very special daddy/daughter time. Then she had to go to the bathroom. When she got there, she started looking pale. Rachel's been having times where she just passes out and doctors can't figure out why. Well, I panicked. I took Rachel to Tricia and she had the lifeguard call the EMT on duty. 30 minutes and all the attention in the world later, and we're on our way to Glens Falls Hospital (against my wishes at the time) for more blood work and an EKG. After three hours at the hospital, we got home.

In retrospect, I was pretty poor in response to all that happened. Selfish and aloof, I didn't come alongside my wife and daughter and stand strong for them. I was more upset as to why they always have to be the center of attention. Why are you embarrassing me? God got a hold of me as we were driving down to Glens Falls and this morning in prayer.

He gave me a great teaching word this morning. He said I have great authority in prayer, more than I realize. Why haven't I known about it? Because the devil wants nothing more for me to be impotent in prayer; because the devil knows the damage it can do. He showed me that if I had taken authoirty right there at the pool, in front of the EMT and the security guards, I could have seen the enemy fly out the door and never come back. I didn't. He's not condemning me; He's showing me what I'll be able to do next time.

Jesus was given all authority to overcome all the power of the enemy. Jesus has passed that authority down to you and me. Prayer should not turn into "please please please" session, where we hope that God has heard enough of our prayers and feels we are worthy to be answered. That is the basis for most other religions. Jehovah's Witnesses, Muslims. You try to present yourself just good enough that God will tip the cosmic scales in your favor. How much is good enough to earn God's favor?

We need to do nothing except know deep down that God has granted all authority to us. There is nothing that can tear us down or take us apart. WE HAVE THE VICTORY!!!!! Prayer is more like telling our enemies that they've lost. Over and over and over again. Think about the balls the devil has that he would attack a three year old child. A baby? "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." (John 10.10). We are at war. We need to fight. Live in the authority God placed in us. Just because you don't believe he's there doesn't mean he's not.

Start with the Daily Prayer. The more you pray it, the more it becomes a part of you. And it will help you to clarify your position in the world and inside His Kingdom. Then just talk to God. Walk with Him. Commune with Him. It's not religion. Anything that guides you in the direction of religion should be tossed aside immediately. He loves us passionately. Let Him know you want the same thing the other way. He's got enough love and revelations to go around.