PRAYER, WATCHING AND THANKSGIVING
(week 41/14)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Colossians 4:2 KJV: Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Philippians 4:6-9 KJV: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, DO: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Here Paul instructs us to continue in prayer, watching in the same with thanksgiving and to pray about every worrisome situation in our lives and so not give place to worry and anxiety.
What is prayer?
Prayer is communication between man in the physical realm and God in the spiritual realm through the avenue of words and thoughts: we speak words and think thoughts to God and He responds through His Word, our thoughts and corresponding physical manifestations.
Prayer involves an element of spiritual warfare by which satanic opposition to our communication with God is EFFECTIVELY overcome:
Daniel 10:12-13 KJV: Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. (13) But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
This why we have to pray with tongues and travail to tap into divine wisdom and power in GREAT MEASURE to EFFECTIVELY maneuver and overcome Satan’s opposition.
Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV: Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:18 AMP: Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Romans 8:26 GW: At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words.
James 5:16 AMP: Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
Also, we have to pray because it is the ONLY LEGAL AVENUE through which God intervenes in the earth since Lord gave the authority on the earth to man.
Genesis 1:26 KJV: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Psalms 115:16 KJV: The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
When God does things on the earth sovereignly: without using a human vessel, the power used to do it must still be released into the earth through a human spirit, at some later date, to make it legal. This is because God has eternally subjected Himself to His Word: which is the law that governs both God and man. By doing this, the righteousness and justice of God remain eternally established.
What is watching?
Watching is being vigilant to pray in all situations and in prayer by maintaining a CONSCIOUSNESS of God’s presence while praying and communing with Him through our thoughts.
Matthew 26:40-41 KJV: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (41) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
What is thanksgiving?
This is thanking God what He has done in the past, what He is presently doing and will do as you pray. Thanksgiving should be done with your thoughts even WHILE you are praying. Then in ADDITION, you can pray with thanksgiving EXCLUSIVELY AFTER A CONCENTRATED TIME OF PRAYER AND IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP OF GOD!
Acts 16:25 KJV: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
As we PRACTICE DAILY, HABITUAL, SYSTEMATIC AND CONSISTENT prayer, with watching and thanksgiving, we will effectively BE PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING and so experience PERFECT PEACE SINCE OUR MINDS WILL CONSTANTLY BE STAYED ON GOD!
1Thessalonians 5:17-18 KJV: Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Isaiah 26:3 KJV: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
