Day 46 - Saturday

Day 46

 

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."  Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

 

As we close this Lenten study of the armor of God, and as we look toward tomorrow as the day we will honor Christ's resurrection, let us understand in the end that the armor, and all it's accessories is actually the act of putting on the resurrected Christ.

 

Truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, faith, and the word of God all are attributes of the Christ Himself.  When God looks at you and me, he sees Jesus.  We are hid in him.  He responds to us as if he is responding to Jesus.

 

This is why, once we have clothed ourselves in Christ, we can stand and pray "in the Spirit."  This is the same Spirit that the sword belongs to.  This is the same Spirit that serves as a valet in dressing us in the armor of God.  This is the same Spirit, the Spirit of Christ who lives and dwells within us now.

 

We are not now or ever alone.  He dwells with us and is always available to help us and protect us and to assist us even in our prayers.

 

"…God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans...He knows us far better than we know ourselves…and keeps us present before God.That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:26b, 27a, 28 (TMSG)

 

As we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide our prayers, we will see our prayers become more and more effective in our lives and the lives of those around us.  He is faithful and will be so forever.  He is our comforter.

 

"But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said.  He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you." John 16:13-14 (TMSG)

 

Prayer:  "Holy Spirit, assist me in my prayers.  Clothe me in the armor, in Christ Himself and let me be hid in his presence.  I desire to live in him.  In Christ I pray, Amen."