What kind of soldier are you?

I was talking to a friend today and we were talking about the impact of prayer in our lives.  Prayer affects so many areas, on so many levels; it is so compelling to consider how it not only changes things... it changes us!

Consider this:  A soldier in the Army goes through basic training to learn the "basics" about how to be a soldier: how to march, follow orders, handle a weapon, to work as a member of a team, etc.  After that, they can serve as part of the Army along with tens of thousands of other regular soldiers. 

Now, consider the special forces soldier:  Besides basic training, the special forces soldier goes through months of additional specialized training to learn how to become an expert - an expert marksman, an expert in weapons, an expert in following orders, an expert in leading others, an expert in working as member of team, and he gains specialized training that other soldiers don't get.  They do this willingly and they do this over the course of weeks and weeks of training.  It does not happen over night.  It happens because of a steady pattern of discipline and devotion to duty.  Special forces soldiers get assigned the most specialized missions, often the most important missions, and often very dangerous... but they are prepared for it.  They are the best.

Now, back to the original thought about prayer...  A life devoted to prayer prepares the Christ-follower for the most important missions.  By devoting our hearts to prayer on a regular basis, with a pattern of discipline and devotion, it prepares us to hear God's voice (above our own), to know and recognize His wisdom, and sense the Holy Spirit's leading.  In this way we can be used by God for His most important missions - those that reach others for His kingdom and those that impact lives with His love!

What kind of soldier are you?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  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.  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.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.    Ephesians 6:10 - 18



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