|
Satan will do everything within his power to keep the Christian from praying. He knows that the praying Christian is a formidable force to deal with. He understands that humble, holy praying men and women are a powerful weapon in God's hands. Therefore, he will attempt to keep the Christian away from the throne of God. He'll assist the believer in becoming so busy that he doesn't have time to pray. Or he'll seduce praying Christians off the highway of holiness.
On the other hand, God
is seeking men and women of prayer - men and women whose lives are wholly surrendered
to Him. When God finds such a person, He will move heaven to earth to
accomplish His will on behalf of that person. The Bible says that Christians
overcame Satan "by the blood of the Lamb, the word of their testimonies
and that they loved not their lives unto death" (Rev. 12:11).
Several years ago, I met
a dear godly man who understood this great truth. He had been imprisoned for
five years in communist Czechoslovakia
because of his faith in Jesus. He stood firmly during those trials and became a
deep man of prayer. I'll never forget my encounter with this dear brother in
Christ. While at his apartment, he walked me over to a window overlooking a
football stadium and said, "Every week there are thousands of people who
gather in that stadium to cheer their favorite football team. But I believe
that one day that stadium will be filled with people worshiping God."
I must confess that my
heart was filled with doubt. But then the dear old saint opened the door of his
heart and allowed me to see the deep desires that were crying out. "Many
people come to my country," he said, "and they want to make a big
fire for God. I don't want to make a big fire for God. I want to be consumed by
God's fire - until I am ashes. And when I'm ashes, then I will see the glory of
God." He then looked at me and said, "Do you understand what I'm
saying?"
I thought he was talking
about my German because we were speaking to each other in German. So, I quickly
replied, "Yes. I understand."
"No," he
quickly retorted. "Do you really understand what I'm saying? When I'm so
much nothing that God is everything, then I will see the glory of God."
Then I understood. This
man had become God's secret weapon. A life wholly yielded to God is an awesome
weapon in the hands of a holy God.
|