WATCH, PRAY, REJOICE!
10th Dec 2014
I woke up with the song, “O Happy Day” reverberating in my head, especially the stanza, “He taught me how to trust and pray, and live rejoicing every day.” Stress is a big factor in modern day life, it’s easy to come under its influence and live without the help available to us by the Holy Spirit.
You and I were designed to live in dependance on divine resources, to receive help in our daily life. Society around us sees independence as a sign of strength, but it can be self-sufficiency and drive us into more and more performance driven behaviour.
Jesus spoke to the disciples about His death and return to the Father, and told them that He was not leaving them as orphans, He would always be with them through the person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had demonstrated His own reliance on the Holy Spirit, He constantly declared that He was not acting independently, but rather depending on heavenly instructions and heavenly resources.
We are “asthenic” which is of Greek origin, meaning - “too weak physically, mentally and spiritually to act independently”. We need a partner to help us and the Holy Spirit has committed himself to be that person. Romans 8.26 says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness...” He still gives instruction, power and teaches us to live rejoicing every day in His ability, not our own.
Prayer is in essence our acknowledgement of our helplessness, our seeking to tap into supernatural resources, and using His divine power in every aspect of life. Don’t give way to the stress filled climate surrounding us - live a watchful, prayerful life tapping into the power of heaven - and see those situations change.
You can worry or pray - but it is impossible to do both!
by Joyce Sibthorpe
