PRAYER is one of the more difficult spiritual activities in the Christian life. Prayer is a great privilege for every believer, but it’s also difficult for us to be faithful in our prayer life. So, we need to be extra vigilant in prayer. Satan constantly and continually resists our time of prayer. He constantly attacks the praying church. Prayer is our surrender to the Lord, and it demonstrates our dependence upon Him. Prayer is our chief form of thankfulness that we owe to the Lord (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 116), and it’s the very means the Lord uses to bring peace to our soul (Phil. 4:6-7). Therefore, it is no surprise that Satan attacks, perverts, manipulates, disrupts, discourages, and seeks to distort the Christian’s prayer life and the corporate prayer of the church. Therefore, we need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves in coming to the Lord in prayer.
ONE WAY we can strengthen our prayer life is to pray through the Psalms. Let me give you an example using Psalm 23:1-2. Read one verse and then pray through that verse using your own words and applying and appropriating its truth in your life.
Vs. 1: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
• Thank You, Lord, for being my Shepherd.
• So often I’m a wandering sheep and need to be shepherded by You.
• Thank You, Lord Jesus, for shepherding me with Your Word and Spirit.
• Because You are my Good Shepherd, I have need of nothing.
• As my Shepherd, You protect me, feed me, nourish me, provide for me, comfort me, etc.
• Dear LORD, please keep shepherding me in every area of my life; I need it!
• I am dependent upon You; I am needy every moment of every day.
Vs. 2: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”
• As my Shepherd, You lead me to the green pastures of Your Word.
• It’s in these green pastures that I am well fed and nourished spiritually.
• I also find rest and comfort in Your green pastures.
• Thank You, LORD, for watering me with Your Word.
• The “still waters” of Your Word wash me from sin and quench my spiritual thirst.
• The “still waters” of Your Word calms my soul as I reflect on Your promises in Your green pastures, which is Your Word.
• It’s in the “still waters” of Your Word that You grant me assurance that I am a sheep of Your pasture, and that I will forever remain in Your kingdom. “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!” (Psalm 84:1)
THIS METHOD is one way you can begin strengthening and cultivating your prayer life to glorify God, strengthen your soul, encourage God’s people, intercede for other believers, and defeat Satan’s attacks against every individual Christian and the whole Church of Christ.
In Christ’s service,
Pastor S. Henry