Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. — Psalm 144:1, NLT
Are you ready for battle? When a new year rolls in, many make resolutions for healthy eating and regular exercise. It is a common joke that gyms will return to regular attendance by February as most people will have given up on their resolution. Why is that? Because it’s quite hard!
Yet, anyone who has stuck with it will tell you this, it gets easier! Some days are still difficult, but in general, the muscles are trained and ready. It’s just like prayer, isn’t it? When trying to make it a lifestyle, it’s hard at first – a real battle actually – but after a while it becomes more natural. Is prayer a muscle? I think so!
In our text, David praises God for keeping him steady. He says that God trains his hands for war and gives his finger skill for battle. He recognizes that when he goes to war, he doesn’t go alone. It is God who gives him a good strategy, makes him strong, and sharpens his skills for battle.
Prayer is also a little like war and the Lord leads us through it. It is He who gives us the words and leads us to ask for the right things. He makes us bold and strong, and sharpens our prayer skills. And just like a workout routine, prayer becomes increasingly more natural, and easier to engage.
GOD TRAINS US FOR BATTLE
Scripture is clear that we are not alone when praying and there is always power when we dare open our mouths and trusting God with it:
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” Romans 8:26, NLT, Emphasis added.
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16, NLT, Emphasis added.
Finally, when you pray God’s Word, you are praying life into being. The spiritual world does not remain unmoved. Why is that? Because the Holy Spirit takes our prayers to God, Jesus is interceding for us, and God says His Word won’t return to Him void. After all, we are not just throwing words in the wind. The Creator of the universe is listening.
Will you trust God that even when you don’t see immediate results? He is at work and mighty to save, to deliver and to transform situations? Will you have enough faith to believe that it’s not your performance, but God’s faithfulness that will bring results? Pray today! Get ready for battle!
Heavenly Father, it’s so easy to get discouraged as I pray. More often than not, I don’t see immediate results. Either You are doing something better, or I fail to recognize Your wonderful work. Either way, increase my faith. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear so that I may see You at work. Help me pray more and more diligently. Amen!
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