Warriors and Not Worriers

It’s easy to tell someone not to worry when I’m not facing the challenges they face.  To say, “I’ll pray for you” is a commitment that is made between the person saying it and the individual needing help, whereas I believe a statement such as this is also a contractual promise between God and the person volunteering to pray.

The antonym of ‘promise’ is the word ‘breach’.  I would also consider another word that says it quite well; the word is ‘lie’, and we all know what that means.  As I see it, to breach a contract or lie to the Holy Spirit is like walking on thin ice or like the idiom “one step forward, two steps back.”

Yes, God is long-suffering and forgives sin and we are living in the dispensation of grace, and not under the law of Moses, but I am sure God expects better from us.  I believe He wants us to become warriors, standing strong in faith and believing in the power of prayer rather than being a worrier and giving into fear.

I am aware that it’s easy for me to sit here and give my two cents concerning people and their faith or lack thereof when I don’t know the circumstances surrounding their need, but this I do know, prayer changes things and gives hope to the hopeless that enriches their faith in God when He answers prayer.

I will not soon forget that I am a walking miracle because of the barrage of prayers that people prayed on my behalf.  Fervent prayers produce warriors out of worriers, because God’s strength becomes their strength.

(James 5:16), “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

A quick side note: how many times do you think the following statement has been made to people in stress by meaningful souls, yet having little follow-through in what they promise?  The sensitive statement is this: “I’ll pray for you.” 

Sometimes I wonder if these words are spoken out of habit or rote, because of concern in the moment, or did they want to appear spiritual because they felt it was the right thing to say at that moment in time?

I know I’m meddling, and being a bit facetious, but if I were to go my separate way from a person having a need and vowed to pray for that need but failed to do so because of a short memory, my question is this: How does God feel about broken promises?  Remember, it is a vow to God as well.

(Ecclesiastes 5:4-5), “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed.” (vs 5) “Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.”

I’ve been there.  I did exactly this, because of my busy schedule and things that were pressing my mind, but is this an excuse acceptable to God?  We may be held accountable, because of our lack of due diligence.  I don’t really know, it’s just a thought, but it is certainly something to ponder.

To make a promise and break it is not good.  In my opinion, there is no excuse or way to justify inactivity when breaking promises to pray.  I felt distraught when I finally remembered the person that I was going to pray for but didn’t.  I quickly asked God to forgive me when I realized what I failed to do.

I’m confident God forgave me, because I believe we learn by our mistakes, which taught me to be deeply mindful of the importance of follow-through with things I commit to do.  I am more diligent regarding my promises now, and confident that I will do better with future commitments.

Allow me to propose the following solution that works for me.  This is my suggestion for people that have good intentions yet fall short in keeping their ends tucked in regarding promises made, promises kept.

Try this: Pray for the person’s need where they stand no matter where you are.  Believe with all that is within you that God will move in their situation and send a miracle.  Be brave and refuse to allow your spirit to become intimidated or embarrassed because of people that may be around. Maybe they too will be touched through your prayer or perhaps bring back memories when God meant something in their life.

Before hanging up the phone after learning of a person’s need, immediately pray for that individual and the needs they have.  Don’t tell them that you will pray and then forget.  It’s better to pray now than being embarrassed before God if we forget to pray as we promised.

Through prayer, we become warriors of the faith as we step out in the power of the Holy Spirit to help worriers become strong believers when prayers are answered and miracles take place.  We need to move with the same boldness of power that accompanied the apostles of Jesus after the Holy Spirit descended upon each of them, being filled with power from on high.

Our obedience could ignite revival-spirited attitudes that would rekindle Holy Ghost faith by reaffirming that God’s presence is still active today as He was in the early church.  God never changes.

The Lord is the same God that parted the Red Sea, healed the leper, the blind man, and the woman with an issue of blood, to name a few.  The God of today is the same God that raised Lazarus from the dead and the young boy that was being buried after his funeral procession. 

Our Lord is the same God that turned water into wine at the wedding feast, and fed the Children of Israel, Manna from heaven as they trekked across the desert to the promised land.  God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever.  Christians must mentally and spiritually galvanize the fact that they walk in Christ, while guarding against becoming weak in faith through compromising one’s commitment to Him.

Believers in Jesus should always trust God’s word and believe His promises without wavering.  The same Spirit dwells within Christians, today, that dwelled in the apostles of Jesus when they did miracles in His name.  We need to stand firm in our faith and become God’s warriors and stop worrying whether He will embarrass us by not answering our prayers when we pray for people.

One man or woman plus God is the majority.  The power of Almighty God is within all Christians.  We just need to recognize Who’s we are, and who we are in Him; then act accordingly in the power of Jesus name.  Pray, believe God, and leave the answers with Him.  We are then warriors and not worriers. 

In the following scriptures, Jesus is speaking.

(John 14:12-14), “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (vs 13) “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (vs 14) “If you ask anything in My name I will do it.”

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Written by,

Papa Boyd