When Christ said we should pray without ceasing, He did not create room for exceptions - whether we feel like it or not, or whether we're happy or not. Although I love words, I could easily be torn down by the wrong words, especially in moments when I'm thin-skinned. In those moments, it feels as if I'm visited by the spirit of heaviness. Not even food, activities, or confronting the person who hurt me can alleviate the pain.
Recently, as I prayed in the Spirit, I realized that my emotions are always under attack. With an unstable and unhappy feeling, I gave up praying. But God had already given us the instruction: "Men ought always to pray and not to faint" (Luke 18:1). So, it's in those moments of feeling heavy that God wants us to press into Him.
I've discovered that if I can stay and pray, even if it's just a little at a time, God's presence eventually overtakes my feelings, and I'm filled with joy. Not the kind of joy that comes from resolved arguments or changed circumstances, but the joy that comes from God, replacing the spirit of heaviness with the spirit of laughter.
Praying always is an instruction we should take seriously. The devil knows that when we start seeing God's face, we become a terror to him. That's why he gives us countless reasons to discourage us from praying.
When God spoke about "dwelling in the secret place" (Psalm 91:1), this scripture became our key verse for protection. But it means more than that. It means finding our identity in God. We might have been trying to prove our worth or identity, but God says, "I can give it to you. You can find it in Me."
The world doesn't need to define us with a name or role. We can choose to be like Jesus, allowing Him to transform our lives. As we pray and seek out the deep things of God, we don't just get answered prayers; we get transformed. We discover who we are meant to be and align ourselves with that identity.
We can use prayer to liberate the identity Christ has formed for us. The devil's strategy is to make us question our worth. He can use the words of our loved ones or respectable people to discourage us. But we can arm ourselves with the Word of God and the lamp of the Holy Spirit, finding strength and meaning in Him.
There is provision for all our needs, but the question is, are we ready to find it?
Stay Revived!
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