Thursday, September 26, 2019

praying effectively: Put on Armor of Light (Rom.13:11-14)



(Romans 13:10-14)  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the daynot in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
  
Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:
- that believers should know our time here on earth is always getting nearer to the time we will see Jesus, whether we have physically died and are asleep in Christ, and/or we are raptured (13:11-12)
- that we should always behave properly (13:13)
- that we do not party boisterously and get drunk (13:13)
- that we are not promiscuous (13:13)
- that we are not contentious (13:13)
- that we are not jealous (13:13)

- that we do not do anything to feed or encourage our lusts/desires of the flesh (13:14)

- that we lay aside deeds of darkness (13:12)
- that we put on the armor of light (13:12)
- that we put on the Lord Jesus Christ (13:14)
- that we love everyone and do not wrong them (13:10-11)

Today's prayer:

 Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You are light and love and strength.  Help us avoid evil, and help us not to fall into temptation.  Lord, be our protection, and give us wisdom.  Help us live out Your will by always relying on You, so that You will be our strength, and You will be our light and love to those around us. Amen.

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