DEAR MOTHERS …

There is no doubt that mothers by nature are full of compassion, care and attention for their families which we thank them with all our hearts but if we are honest for that same motherly nature, they can also feel burdened by things or situations that overwhelm their hearts and God wants them to find in Him their peace and strength through growing in their life of prayer.

1. WE MUST BE PEOPLE OF PRAYER

1 Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people… 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.”

Prayer is a priority; Even before having an orderly house, building a prosperous business or even a growing church, we must have a more solid prayer life. We need to re-evaluate and reorganize our priorities and responsibilities as mothers and fathers, husbands and leaders to become people of prayer who have a burning desire to prayerfully carry personal, family, congregational and even regional burdens.

In fact we are people who pray but we are not all people of prayer. The di erence is if you face your challenges on your knees and regain your strength in Him or you do not. The idea is not to see prayer as an unimportant duty but as a function of spiritual government.

a. The example of the disciples of Jesus: Upon seeing the life of Jesus and His ipact, the disciples took the humble initiative of asking him to teach them to pray and Jesus did (Luke 11: 1). When we recognize this lack of prayer in our lives we are admitted into the ‘Master’s School of Prayer’ which leads us to kneel when we recognize that our inability to face our challenges comes from the lack of prayer..

Matthew 17:19-21 “Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it [the demon] out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith…. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this genre does not come out except with prayer and fasting.”

The disciples learned to pray but it still took time for them to grow in their ability to prevail in prayer:

Matthew 26:38-41“Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”… 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Then, in the book of Acts we see them prevailing in prayer even though the Master was no longer physically with them 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” Throughout the book of Acts we see them continually resorting to prayer. (Acts 3:1; 4:24-31; 13:2-3).

This call to be a person of prayer is more than saying: ‘I am going to pray more for my family, my career and ministry’. It is about involving the feelings because we have understood that we can take them to God. These feelings can become the fuel that moves us to pray when the battle intensifies.

2. INVOLVING OUR FEELINGS IN PRAYER
   James 5:13 “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”Our feelings are the first stage to recover the things that are being lost. If our losses do not hurt us enough to fight for them in prayer, we will simply remain passive waiting for the next attack from the enemy or the next crisis. In the over-entertained and distracted world in which we live we do not even give ourselves time to feel our pain until we are in a crisis too severe and di cult to recover by our means.Involving our feelings in prayer is not about regretting the dysfunctional state of your marriage or poor relationship with your children or hiding or denying those feelings of loss, anger or pain, because in reality those feelings are valuable when we allow them to take us In front of God. We can and should find relief for our troubled emotions in God.

   Isaías 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

   If you are experiencing some kind of desolation, or you feel unsuccessful, or maybe you are worried about what happens with the next generation, use prayer to combat that. It is changing the tears of sadness in liquid prayers.

3. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF HOW THE FEELINGS MOVED THE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD TO PRAY
   1. Ana’s example: If we are honest, we spend more time complaining about our misadventures, struggles, frustrations and disappointments than praying about those situations. That happened to Ana the mother was Samuel, it was not until he eliminated the self-pity that he visualized a son for God that caused him to listen to his prayer and open his womb.1 Samuel 1:10-11 “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life….”Ana knew how to turn her crisis in the right place and there the prayer that changed the situation was created not only for her but for the entire nation.
   2. The example of Jacob: When the life of this patriarch was threatened with death by his bad decisions, he tried to resolve things by human means but what really

made the diference in his problem was the blessing of God who came to contend in sentence. Faced with the threat of being killed by his brother whom he had cheated twice two decades ago, Jacob spent the night in prayer.

Génesis 32:24-29 “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak… 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”… 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

If Jacob had not fought in prayer he was lost, he had no human resources to free him, he turned his death agony into incessant prayer.

4. RECOGNIZING AND FIGHTING THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE

It is an undeniable reality that there is a spiritual world contrary to God’s plans and that we must discern and know how to fight this battle.

Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

Our destiny and that of our children are at risk if we show disinterest in the reality of this battle and do not fight it as God commands in prayer, adoration, faith and obedience.

a. The example of David: In the way that the singer of Israel fought against a lion and a bear to defend the flock, so we must do for our family, church and community. When David fought against Goliath what outraged him was that this individual had dared “to defy the army of the living God” (1 Sam.17:26). So also we, when we feel the loss of a person’s destiny, this persistent struggle must arise.

In the same way that God does not force anyone to love Him, so He does not force anyone to pray; Prayer is voluntary. When David was under intense pressure because his army wanted to stone him because the Amalekites had kidnapped everyone’s wives; David found his consolation in God, as he had on the other occasions.

1 Sam. 30:6 “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”

This whole traumatic situation fueled his prayer life. David came to the Lord in his emotional state of helplessness and despair, and was restored in strength and courage; and even consulted the Lord what happened to take in this di cult moment.

v.8 “and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

5. CONCLUSION / APPLICATION
Psalm 57 shows how David fought his battles in prayer.

1. David was under extreme pressure. The title of the Psalm says: ‘when David had fled from Saul and was in a cave’
2. David cries out to God and intends to take refuge in God until he finds a change in the situation v.1 “Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
3. David recognizes that the definitive solution of his problem came from God v. 2-3 “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me.” Their spiritual struggle is not focused on the enemy but on God.
4. David involves his feelings v.4-6 “I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords… 6 They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves.“ Yes we can and we must speak to God about our feelings, He already knows them.
5. David recognizes and exalts the greatness of God in adoration v.5, 7-11 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. … 7 Firm is, oh God, my heart … I am going to sing psalms 8 Wake up, my soul! … I will rise tomorrow! 9 I will praise you, Lord… 10 For your love is so great that it reaches the heavens; Your truth reaches the firmament! 11 You, O God, are above the heavens; your glory covers the whole earth!”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. 1. Do you consider that you pray or that you have a life of prayer? Explain why
   2. How can you improve your spiritual life by involving your feelings?
   3. In what specific area should you fight in prayer until you win and what plan do you have to do it?
   4. What are your main obstacles to having a prayer life and how can you remove them?