"[I ask] that they may all be one. "
John 17:20-21
FUSSING, OR PRAYING?
Read It: James 4:1-3; 1 Peter 3:1-7
You've heard the old line about people who can't walk and chew gum at the same time. I don't know about that, but I do know there are some things that are so incompatible you can't do them at the same time. Like fussing and trying to pray, for example. Or to be more precise, it's impossible to be in disunity and yet see our prayers answered. That's clear in a number of places throughout the Bible. Take a look at 1 Timothy 2:8 once more, and you'll see that the environment for prayer is the absence of "wrath and dissension." When the church prays, it must be done in a spirit of unity rather than division and strife. Now we know that unity in the body of Christ is God's will, because Jesus prayed for it Himself. No group of people can accomplish much until they are agreed on what they're trying to accomplish. But prayer is not just a matter of getting people together. There's a divine element involved. God only operates in a context of oneness. That's why Satan works so hard to keep believers from getting along. When we're at odds with one another, we aren't likely to even pray together, much less expect those prayers to get God excited. The same principle operates at home. Peter stated it so plainly you can't miss it. If a husband and wife are divided, their prayers are hindered. And when a couple's prayers are hindered, the Devil has the key to that family's front door.
So he'll work overtime to keep strife brewing in a home. And you thought the only reason you and your spouse are fussing is because you are not compatible! In his no-nonsense style, the Apostle James gives us another angle on this thing of strife and prayer. Not only do we fight about stuff, but after we fight, we still don't get what we want. Why? Well, in some cases it's because we should have prayed for it instead of fighting for it. But in other cases (v. 3), we don't get it because God isn't about to give it to us so we can blow it on ourselves. You can't fight and pray at the same time, so you need to decide which it's going to be. Think About It If you're at odds with another believer today, better fix it before your prayer life breaks!
No Comments