Prayer as a Wartime Walkie Talkie

I’ve been writing about 1 Peter 4 and today we come to the reason I’ve included this passage in the blog that is trying to encourage us and teach us to pray.

Peter tells us to arm ourselves, to be ready to suffer, and to be anxious to do the will of God.  He then lists the cultural sins of his day and speaks of the coming judgment.  Then he drops a truth bomb in verse 7,

“The end of the world is coming soon.  Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.”

He goes to speak about love and hospitality, and I would encourage you to read those verses and put them into practice, but my purpose is to write about prayer.

Peter speaks of life as a war to be holy, he speaks of the world coming to an end, and tells us that the goal, in light of the end of the world, is holiness.  Be earnest and be diligent in your prayers.

The ESV says, “be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers.”

If I am to live the life God desires and even commands, I must see life as war and prayer as what Piper calls a war-time walkie talkie.  I must always be in constant communion with God. He sees all, He knows all, and can direct us if we will simply ask Him.  

Imagine fighting an enemy that is known for surprise attacks and having a resource that knows where the enemy is hiding and knows the enemies plan…wouldn’t you want to stay in touch with that recourse?  

I love Peter’s advice…the end is coming…be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.  If you read the rest of this section, he will tell you to love, to be hospitable, and to use your gifts, and “then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.  All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.”