Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Prayer

Excerpt from Ambushing Satan with Song by John Piper based on 2 Chronicles 20: 1-25

Jehoshaphat Seeks the Lord in Prayer

What should we do when God releases our enemies against us?

We should do what Jehoshaphat did. Verse 3: "Then Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord." When our lives are threatened—when our faith is threatened or our marriage or the morality of our children or the orthodoxy of our seminary or the fire of our worship—when we are threatened by any of Satan's devices, we should seek the Lord and fast in earnest prayer.

O, that we would learn to pray the way Jehoshaphat prays here in verses 6–12! He begins by ascribing sovereign power to God: "O Lord, God of our fathers, art thou not God in heaven? Dost thou not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In thy hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee."

O, let's pray like that ... ! Even when we are most desperate, and fear is making our insides melt, let's ascribe sovereign power to God—"In thy hand are power and might so that none is able to withstand thee!" When you begin your prayer by ascribing all power and glory to God, a strength and hope and confidence come into your prayer and you feel yourself in touch with Ruler of the universe.

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