The Battle Field

One of the things we often need in our spiritual journey is encouragement in our personal prayer life.  It is a part of our journey which is seen by no one except the Father.  And, it is also true that we sometimes get sidetracked, we sometimes lose our way, and we sometimes run into a season of spiritual dryness.  In such moments it is a good thing to have someone with whom we can be painfully honest about our struggles.  When walking through such seasons, it is good to have someone praying in our behalf until we can once again put our feet on the right course. 

 

In the absence of such a friend, some of the things we read can serve us as instruments of encouragement.  As I was reading some of the writings of Charles Spurgeon, I came across such a word.  "When you cannot use your sword, you may take the weapon of prayer.  Your powder may be damp, your bowstring may be relaxed, your sword may be rusty, and your spear may be bent--but the weapon of prayer is never out of order. (Ephesians 6:17-18) Men have to sharpen the sword and the spear, but prayer never rusts.  This is the blessed thing about prayer:  It is a door that none can shut." (The Essential Works of Charles Spurgeon)

 

When we find ourselves struggling in faithfulness to prayer, it is a good thing to be reminded that there is spiritual battle taking place within us.  The struggle is not a struggle with someone with similar strength, or with someone who can be outsmarted, but it is a spiritual struggle with the power of evil which seeks to rob us of our spiritual strength and undermine the work God is seeking to do in us.  We are never alone in this journey.  Christ is with us.  He has already put the one who seeks to undo us among the ranks of the defeated.  The Holy Spirit is with us interceding when none is coming forth from us.  And, the creating Father is with us to bring new life.  Always.   Thanks be to God, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.