“Praise be to the LORD my Rock,
Who trains my hand for war,
My fingers for battle.”

David wrote those words 3,000 years ago. David’s life depended on being skilled in battle. His life was never more at risk than when he was at war. David understood that the LORD Himself was preparing him for warfare, training him in the skills that would win the battle. 

Ever since Jesus told us to “ love our enemies,” Christians have been uncomfortable with military battle—but that doesn’t mean we aren’t at war. We are in an epic battle. A battle “not against flesh and blood, but against rulers and authorities, powers of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil.”

And that battle, we’re told in the same passage, is fought in prayer. “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all of God’s people .” There’s no magic in this; just pray! Go for a walk around your neighbourhood and pray (out loud!). Go to a quiet room in your house and get on your knees. Walk the rows of your classroom and pray. Pray!

One last thing. We are being trained. Our LORD is training us. Training always means stretching and doing new exercises to keep you agile and alert. Being trained in prayer is no different. There’s a discipline to praying. Don’t wait to ‘feel’ like praying; you never will! Just do it! If it’s not awkward (or audacious), it’s probably not praying.

Get on your training gear and let’s do this!

Praying (training) with you this day!

Andrew

P.S. I don’t know if any of you are still fasting, but if you are, let me encourage you to keep it up. “Your Father in heaven sees what is done in secret and will reward you.”