I can’t believe it’s been two years since I had Rob write a post for me! I’ll definitely make sure he does more in the future…

Here’s Rob’s Rhetoric…

Prayer Power is Better than Will Power

Prayer is the most important element of an effective Christian. Prayer is the difference between accomplishing our best and God’s best. With much prayer there is much power, with little prayer there is little power. Prayer is more than outlining our agenda to God. It is about developing a relationship with God so we play a part in His eternal plan. God has not called us to safe comfortable places and to do easy things. He has called us to go into dark places to be a source of light to a hurting and lost people.

We cannot experience victory in life by exercising our own wisdom alone. Spiritual maturity is not attained by reaching a specific destination. Spiritual maturity is a process. It is a journey that is traveled by faith and not by sight. The journey does not end until God decides that it is over.

We are not capable of removing every challenge that confronts us, but we can pray to the one who can. It is never too late to start praying and always too soon to stop praying.

Mark Batterson says, “When you start praying regularly, you will find irregular things happening on a regular basis.”
A consistent prayer life keeps our heart sensitive and open to what God wants to accomplish through us and in us. Prayer keeps our focus on what is right about God and our focus away from what is wrong about us.

Without a relationship with Christ the best we can hope for is to learn how to cope with our problems. Jesus placed the Holy Spirit within us to comfort us in our struggles, to teach us the truth about God and to empower us for victory. Our circumstances should not control our attitude and response to life. Our relationship with Christ should determine how we react to our circumstances.

Our job is to trust God at His word, not to reason with Him or try to understand Him according to our own logic and wisdom. Frustration, fear and confusion occurs when we attempt to manipulate our own circumstances without allowing God to be in control. Prayer helps us release the stress created by this world and opens our heart to receive the peace of Christ.

John 15:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

I Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.