Surrender

(From the mind of he)

I'm involved with a Bible study with some of the guys from the college. This Monday we watched a message from a guy who pastors a church in Brooklyn. His message was about God's house being a house of prayer. He opened with the story of Jesus clearing the temple of the money changers and saying, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a robbers' den."(Mark 11:17) A House of Prayer. My life must be a house of prayer.
As the message went on the pastor said something that stuck out to me. He said if you can beat Satan in prayer then you can beat him in any other aspect of your life. I pondered this and came up with the following:

1. The last thing Satan wants anyone to do is to talk to God. I learned that talking to God is not relying on yourself. Humility will grow and pride will die with a conversation at the throne of grace.

2. Everything must begin with prayer. The Bible is truth, but if I don't seek the Holy Spirit's guidance then all I'm doing is trying to figure out what God is trying to say. If I talk to God first then guidance and strength will flow from His Word.

3. I've tried many times in life to figure things out and I always end up in the same situation, which is walking around in circles. All things are impossible without God. (for a reference on this refer back to my Lost Sheep blog about the Zaba making a break for it)

4. God has everything I could ever need. All the answers await me and are found in His presence.

I've had a continual struggle with prayer. Sometimes my tent of meeting is strong, and at other times the conversation is short or nonexistent. I know for prayer to take hold and transform I must surrender all. I must give Him my life daily, pick up my cross, and follow Him. I know He will always keep me on that narrow path. A path that I will only be able to see with prayer.