You may have heard the term before of ‘prayer warrior.’ In many ways, this is synonymous of the ‘prayer guards’ in this new-found spiritual warfare resource and community.
So, what type of prayer guard are you? Ask yourself these questions for your life now and then your life overall. What I’ve listed are the ideals of each, but you get the idea.
~ Are you a Private/Airman in the rank of the prayer guard? In other words, do you want to learn more about prayer and haven’t prayed either for too long now (if at all) or not consistently? Also, you are trying to learn how to have a Daily Quiet Time and read the Bible. This is the entry-level position.
~ Are you a Lieutenant? Meaning you have some prayer experience and some prayer knowledge—and try to pray often, but aren’t the prayer without ceasing type quite yet. You are in the Word some and study it some as well. You have a quiet time, but it may not be daily. You have a person or two you mentor in prayer.
~ Are you a Major in prayer? Meaning you have a great deal of prayer knowledge and experience, and pray more often than not, but not quite without ceasing. Also, are you the type who wants to know more about spiritual warfare prayer? You have a Daily Quiet Time and find that you need more than an hour. You’re in the Word, you pray the Word, and you are getting to know the Bible more by the day. You have a few people you mentor in prayer.
~ Are you a Colonel in the prayer guard? This is the top rank. Jesus, after all, is the 5-Star General and is at the very top. You do your best to pray without stopping and are far more successful at it than not. You could write volumes about answered prayer and have an extensive, organized prayer list, know how to pray effectively spiritual warfare prayer, and have an order of battle for your prayer life. You have several under you who you mentor. You have read the Bible through a couple of times and have studied it extensively. You have a 2 hour Daily Quiet Time and keep a journal of your travels with God and His answered prayer.
Few of us have stepped into the rank of the Prayer Guard of Colonel and have stayed there for years. Instead, we’re usually all over the place and which rank we are depends on the week. All of us have been a Private in prayer at one time and can go back there from time to time. It’s a starting point. The Colonel is the ideal we should strive to become in our lifetime. It’s not something we can achieve overnight. It takes years to get to this point.
Prayer Journal and Reflection Questions:
~ So, which rank are you today in the prayer guard?
~ Also, which rank would you say your life average is?
~ What is your goal as far as rank in the prayer guard of God’s army of praying saints?
Faith, Not Works
Also, let me take a moment to say that acts of faith are not as important as faith. We are not saved by praying. We are not saved by being in the Word. The only way we are saved is through believing in Jesus Christ (See John 3:16). However, the more we are in the Word and the more we pray, the clearer we will hear the voice of God and His purposes and instructions for our lives. The more we do these things, the more we come to know God and love Him. Does this make sense?
~ Stacy Duplease
Remembering Your Present, LLC and pj4life (Prayer Journaling for Life)
Author of Biblical Fiction, Bible Studies, and Devotionals
