B2B: What We’ve Got Here is Failure to Communicate

For those of you familiar with the old Paul Newman movie, Cool Hand Luke, this title will make sense. For the rest of you spring chickens, maybe not so much, but I thought it especially appropriate for the next post in our Back to Basics (B2B) blog series.

Communicate With Our Commander-In-Chief

You see, as Christ-followers, we have the rare privilege in this spiritual battle we live in to have instant access with our Commander-In-Chief at any time. He is ever ready to hear our questions or cries for help. Yet many times we go to war without taking the time to consult Him first.

Let’s take a step back and think about this for a second. Would it be prudent for a soldier in the United States military to wage war without first consulting his commanding officer? Of course not!

But every time we step into our day or any given situation without first spending time in prayer to God, we are guilty of doing just that.

No wonder we say and do the wrong things! No wonder we often end up in seemingly impossible situations! No wonder our lives are more difficult than they really have to be!

Communicate Through Prayer

While the Christian life is not specifically about us and what we can get out of it, consider the benefits of prayer when we take the time to humbly (yet boldly) enter God’s throne room of grace:

Strength – Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
Relief, Mercy – Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1)
God’s Nearness – The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)
Good Gifts – If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11)
God’s Grace – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Forgiveness and Healing – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Answers – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7)

And the list goes on and on–deliverance, salvation, peace, and so much more! Why would we NOT spend time with God in prayer?

Communicate – Action Points

Make it a priority to communicate constantly with the Lord. We desperately need His input in our lives! May we not suffer from failure to communicate with our Creator, Lord, and Savior.
Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s a matter of adjusting our will to His, letting Him know what’s on our hearts (He already knows, but we need to express it), and asking for His help in faith.
I hesitate to say this because I don’t want to complicate prayer, but if it helps you be more consistent with your prayer time, keep a journal–not so you can make a Santa Claus list, but so you have a visual representation of God’s faithfulness.
Pray constantly. Throughout each day, lift up concerns to God. Imagine that He is right beside you (He is!) and talk to Him.
Don’t forget to say thank you. Express your gratitude for who He is, His attributes, what He’s done, for what He’s doing, for what He will do. It’s His will that we are thankful people (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Lord Jesus, throughout Your earthly ministry, we see Your faithful example of prayerfulness. Oh that we might follow in Your steps and pray! Help us realize our need, the needs of those around us, and constantly bombard heaven’s door in response. Help us humble ourselves and pray so we might live lives pleasing to You as faithful soldiers of the Kingdom. Amen.

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