“So if I asked you what your prayer life was like, would you say that it was hot or cold?”
~Miss Clara, WAR ROOM
Perhaps the most common understanding of prayer in the life of a believer is communication with God. We talk and He listens. He speaks and we heed. At least that is how it should work, right? Many times that communication is reduced to nothing more than a list of requests begged of our benevolent God. How much would your life change if you began to view and treat God like your closest, most intimate friend rather than a casual acquaintance? What if you saw prayer as a constant necessity rather than an occasional afterthought? What if it became a ready weapon rather than a random want ad?
Read Revelation 3:14-20 below.
“Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea:
“The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. 20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.
The Laodicean church was one marked by self-sufficiency and pride. Their city lacked a direct water supply, so aqueducts carried in hot and cold water from distant sources. But when it arrived, the water was often lukewarm and contained harmful sediments. Hot water was useful for cleaning and bathing. Cold water was useful for drinking and cooling. Lukewarm water was worthy of little more than a complaint.
The word zealous means: to be filled with zeal and affection and love for someone or something. It means to get hot for God again! The word here for repent goes beyond merely feeling bad and regretting, but actually changing our minds and hearts about something resulting in a change of lifestyle. This is hard to do on our own, but can happen with God’s help as we rely on Him.
Jesus invites us into closer and more intimate fellowship with Him. Read verse 20 again. The image of Christ standing outside the door is a message for believers who have allowed sin, apathy, and pride over time to keep Christ from His rightful throne as Lord in their lives. Jesus desires to come in closer, take rightful control, and rekindle His relationship with each of us.
How much we pray reveals how much we depend on God. Praying is the antithesis of the self-sufficiency modeled by the Laodicean believers. Approaching God through Jesus in prayer at any time for any thing is always a priceless privilege. We all need God all the time. We need His grace moment by moment to help us not waste opportunities, not become self-centered, and not fall into sin. A richer, more active prayer life results when we humbly admit our need for Him and then daily depend on God for the wisdom and grace to do His will in each situation.
Prayer is one of our best resources when it comes to spiritual growth. It’s a weapon we have for battle.
This is an excerpt from War Room Bible Study by Stephen and Alex Kendrick.