“PRAYER WARRIORS”

“PRAYER WARRIORS”

Monday, August 8th, 2022

By Rev. Mark Muckler

SCRIPTURE

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. – Acts 13:1-3

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. – Ephesians 6:10-20

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

In the Book of Acts, I am reminded of the Church of Antioch being a support for Barnabas and Saul. As they were worshiping, fasting, and praying, the Holy Spirit was revealed to the Church to send them off to bear witness to their faith. I can’t help but to remember several significant events in my own life.

Many years ago, I had heard the call to go to seminary and our home church held a ministry support gathering inviting the congregation to partner with us in prayer and financial support for the three years I’d be in seminary. They prayed over us that evening and made a heartfelt commitment and promise to the Lord to pray for us for three years. What a gift! Many of those prayer partners we are still in relationship today. They continue to pray for us and our ministry close to twenty years later. The greatest gift anyone can give to us is the gift of prayer, knowing that we are being lifted up and prayed for continually.

Over the past year and a half or so, we’ve been intentional about strengthening our team of prayer warriors. Especially as we are launching our new ministry to serve pastors and their families, we have felt led to first and foremost, undergird all that we do, with the power of prayer. Last Saturday, we hosted a gathering of our prayer warriors at our home, sharing with them how the Lord was moving in our lives and in our ministry. We shared in a fellowship meal together, shared what God is doing, and spent time in prayer together as a people of faith, asking the Lord to strengthen, protect, and guide our lives. We continue to count it a tremendous blessing to have a great team of prayer warriors whom we know are intentionally praying for us on a daily, consistent basis.

Our team of close to thirty prayer warriors have been there to pray for our marriage, to pray for each of our three children of whom are growing up way to fast, and to pray for every ministry we’ve been involved in. I give God thanks for my pastors who taught me early on in my ministry to make prayer a priority. Lord knows we wouldn’t be where we are without; the power and presence of God leading us, and our faithful prayer warriors interceding on our behalf to the Lord of All Creation. What a blessing!

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

How about you? Do you have a team of prayer warriors who are lifting you up on a daily basis? If not, be encouraged to be praying about whom you could ask to partner with you in prayer. If you’re married, who could you ask to pray for your marriage? If you have children, who could you ask to be praying for your children? Be thinking about and praying for a group of individuals who would be willing to lift you up and pray for your life and ministry. Lord knows the call to discipleship isn’t easy. And sure enough the enemy doesn’t want any of us to be fruitful. Put on the full armor of God and ask others to be praying for you with great intentionality.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, for the gift of prayer, and for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Renew in me a desire to pray continually. May I lean on Your strength and power in all things in life and in ministry. Thank you for all those who have prayed and who continue to pray for me. Reveal to me O Lord, others whom I may reach out to and ask to pray for me as I do the work in which You have called me and set me apart. Loving God, continue to show me the way. Guide and lead my life, strengthen my witness, and protect me from all harm, danger, and persecution. Protect me from the enemy and may You and You alone be glorified in all that I say and do. Thank You Jesus for Your never-ending love. I praise You and I give You thanks for Your abiding presence. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. – AMEN

RESOURCE/APPLICATION

Make a list of persons whose faith you truly admire. Who are those persons you know that have encouraged you in the faith, who remind you to pray, who invite you to take care of yourself? Ask the Lord to reveal to you the persons you can reach out to and ask to partner with you in prayer. And then reach out and humbly ask those persons. I trust that the Lord will bless you beyond measure as you strive to undergird your life and ministry in prayer. To God be the Glory!!!