Day 5: Time to go to W.A.R. (Ephesians 6:18)
Welcome to day 5 of the Discipline Restored challenge- we’re into the discipline of prayer and we’ve been talking the past couple days about how prayer is an unforced but intentional time of communication with God. The Bible tells us we can pray at all times so prayer can happen throughout many and any moment of the day. However, being intentional to make it a priority with a time and place that is undistracted allows us to deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
We looked at the encouragement from Jesus to avoid overthinking and over-speaking in our prayer time, because we don’t need to impress Him. But I want to offer a simple way to guide – not regulate- your times of prayer that can introduce some intentionality to your conversations. All you have to remember is three little letters – W-A-R. WAR- That’s right, I want you to go to WAR each and everyday. The acronym stands for WORSHIP – ADMIT – and REQUEST.
To worship is recognizing and thanking God for who He is and what He’s done.
To admit is confessing the ways we have not loved, trusted and obeyed God.
To request is asking for God to be present in the needs of others, myself and the world around.
We’ll take the next 3 days to go deeper into each one, but for now, let me just point out the significance of making WAR part of your prayer life. In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us that we are involved in an all out spiritual battle- There are forces that want nothing more than to see you fail as a man. To see you far from God, disconnected from your family, taken down by moral failure, wrapped up in your own selfishness. He paints a picture of a warrior equipped with spiritual armor and weapons to battle those forces. He ends with this encouragement in v. 18:
And pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers and requests…and be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
God wants you to be alert and engaged in the battle for relationship with Him and the purpose He’s called you to. He wants you to go to war and one of the most effective means to do that is by praying as often as you are able to. And again notice the promise of His Spirit to be part of the process.
For today’s discipline training, repeat what you did yesterday by sticking to the time and place to have undistracted conversation with God. Consider having a discussion with Him about that battle that Paul talks about. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and talk about that battle with Him. Make note of at least one takeaway you have from that conversation- write it down, share it with a friend or your wife.
Tomorrow we’ll keep pressing towards the prize found in prayer when we look at the first step in the WAR process, the act of WORSHIP.
Discipline Training
- Spend at least 5 minutes in prayer in your undistracted place and time
- Read Ephesians 6:10-18 and talk to God about that battle
- Make note of a takeaway from your time and share with your friend
