I was glancing through my journal this week when I came across words I had written years ago.
It said, “Most battles are won before they ever begin…teach me Lord, how to pray.”
I have written on this numerous times, yet it remains a truth. It is very difficult to prepare for a storm in the midst of it. The time to prepare is before it comes.
In the past few weeks we have seen the chaos of people unprepared for a storm. It is not a pretty sight. Nor is it peaceful or faith inspired. But I am not talking about in the physical realm. I am referring to the spiritual realm.
Even so, it is the same. If an attack or spiritual storm comes our way, are we prepared? Is our faith in place? Will we be able to keep our mind on God and remain in peace? Will the winds blowing around us take our eyes off Jesus? Are we, as the old folks would say, prayed up?
If we find ourselves in a storm and our prayer life isn’t in place, that storm may very well rock our world. It will shake us to the core, if we are not spiritually prepared. That is for sure.
What’s the key to being prepared? Being a person of prayer.
The disciples once asked Jesus to teach them to pray – we all know the scripture. Most of us can quote the prayer. It is found in Matthew 6:9-13.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
I have read and prayed this prayer many times, yet it never quite hit home for me the way it does when I read it in another translation. I want to share the Passion Translation with you today.
Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms, may the glory of Your name be the center on which our lives turn. Manifest Your kingdom realm and cause Your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven. We acknowledge You as our Provider of all we need each day. Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselves release forgiveness to those who have wronged us. Rescue us every time we face tribulation and set us free from evil. For You are the King who rules with power and glory forever. Amen (Passion Translation)
I just love this translation of this verse.
It brings it into the present for me.
May Your name be my center. May Your purpose be fulfilled. I recognize You as my daily provider. For You are the King who rules with power. Wow!
Friends, most battles are won before they begin. They are won in our hearts and minds as we trust in God. As we seek His face daily.
When we are a person of prayer, storms will still come, but they won’t shake us off our stand of faith. We will hold steady, knowing He is with us in every storm. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He will never, never fail us. We can win the battle before it even begins…through prayer and faith in God.
Meditate on this:
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:2 NLT
