The seasoned and successful warrior learns to recognize dangerous terrain from which ambush or sniper fire might come. This is just as true of the spiritual warrior as it is of physical soldiers – if we are oblivious to where attacks may come from, we are likely to fail repeatedly.
As a highly successful warrior king, David doubtless learned to be aware of areas that might conceal enemies and from which a salvo of arrows or other sudden attack might come, and we have only to read his psalms to see that he was just as aware of the directions from which spiritual attacks might come – whether from his own nature or from external enemies. Notice what he says in this regard in Psalm 141:
“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers …” (Psalm 141:3-4).
David’s words here are intriguing – he asks for help not to fall prey to wrongful words (“mouth” and “lips”), thoughts (“heart”), or deeds (“deeds”) that would compromise his desire to obey God, and there is more to these verses than first meets the eye. Although David does not say so explicitly, based on a pattern we find in the Psalms, he appears to list the dangers in order – not in order of sinfulness, but in order of likelihood of the danger occurring. Here and elsewhere, he not only places the danger of wrongful speech first, but he also places a double emphasis on that danger by repeating it (“guard … my mouth,” “watch over… my lips”).
Many of the Psalms follow this same pattern in speaking of right or wrong expressed in words, then in thoughts, and finally in deeds – almost always with the same double emphasis placed on speech. For example, the behavior of the righteous and unrighteous is contrasted in exactly this way.
We read of right behavior: “The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just. The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip” (Psalm 37:30-31). Right words are mentioned twice, then thoughts, and finally deeds.
The same pattern is found of wrong behavior: “But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant” (Psalm 78:36-37). Again, words are mentioned twice, then thoughts, and deeds.
So it is perhaps not surprising to see this pattern in many other contexts – as when the psalmist writes:
“I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer” (Psalm 66:17-19).
Sometimes, words are only stressed once (for example, Psalm 49:3-4), but the pattern of words, thoughts, and deeds usually remains the same.
Interestingly, in the New Testament we find the apostle Paul also frequently placing speech before deeds (Colossians 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:12; etc.), as does Peter (1 Peter 3:9-11). In stressing the great importance of speech the apostle James goes so far as to say: “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26). James follows this up by stressing: “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check” (James 3:2).
Putting these scriptures together, we see a clear pattern that confirms what David tells us. We must be continually alert to the dangers of our own possibly wrongful words, thoughts and deeds – and especially our words – if we are not to be surprised and overthrown by the hidden tendencies of our own nature and external temptations.
This makes good sense. If we are trying to do what is right in our lives, actual wrongful deeds may be the least likely dangers we will have to grapple with. It is more likely that we will usually face attacks in our thoughts – and, according to what David tells us, perhaps the greatest dangers on a day to day basis come through words spoken hastily, in frustration, in anger, or in some other unconsidered way.
Understanding and remembering this bit of spiritual “military intelligence” can help us in our day to day walk. And the military analogy we have used here is one used by the warrior David himself:
“They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear” (Psalm 64:3).
Keeping in mind this principle of guarding against wrongful words, thoughts, and deeds (often in that order) can help us to remain vigilant and to avoid the surprise attacks we all sometimes face from within our own nature as well as from without.
* For further reading on this subject, download our FREE e-book Warriors of the Way: Christian Training, Combat, and Victoryhere.
The Bible has much to say about encouragement – and shows that it is something even the strongest individuals of faith need at times (Moses, David, and Elijah, to name only three). The Scriptures also show that there is a difference between being encouraged in physical things (Proverbs 13:12, etc.) and the kind of spiritual encouragement we all need from time to time in the Christian walk (1 Thessalonians 5:11, etc.).
When problems and difficulties fill our lives, spiritual encouragement can sometimes seem distant, but our new article shows five ways to find it. You can read the article in our Tactics section, here.
An Alpine Symphony, by Richard Strauss, depicts a dawn to dusk climb up a mountain.
Why do we climb mountains? You can get almost as many answers to that question as you can find climbers to ask. Some will say because the mountains are there, others because of the challenge, and others just because. But deeper down I think there really is something about climbing that mirrors a profound human urge to overcome and surmount obstacles.
I think that desire is something we tap into with things that are important to us, as in the Christian goals of growing and overcoming. And I don’t think I’m the only one who sees the parallels between climbing and some of our higher goals. As Edmund Hillary, celebrated “conqueror” of Everest, wrote, “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”
We call it “the Christian walk”, but I often think it’s more like a climb than a walk – both in terms of when it gets tough, and the rewards of accomplishment. I used to enjoy rock climbing, and although I don’t do it anymore, I can’t really think about climbing without thinking of some of the analogies between it and the Christian life. The parallels may be basic, but I know many of climbing’s strategic and tactical lessons have helped me, so I discuss some of them here.
• Plan the ascent. Climbers know that many mountains may be safely scaled only by one route which is not necessarily the easy path. We can’t succeed without a path to follow, and it’s not just a matter of memorizing a set route. Sometimes we need course corrections, and we have to continue to plan as we move upward throughout the climb or the Christian life. Proverbs 22:3 says: “The prudent person sees trouble ahead and hides, but the naive continue on and suffer the consequences.” Do we plan ahead to circumvent problematic situations, to avoid slippery paths and treacherous spiritual terrain? We must live one day at a time, but planning our daily walk is a big part of getting where we want to go. How much time do we actually spend in doing this? Darkness falls fast in the mountains, you have to plan your activities to be ready. Do we plan where to best fit in our spiritual activities, or do they get relegated to whatever time, if any, is left at the end of the day?
• It’s a group activity. Mountains can be wonderful places to be alone, to hike, enjoy the serenity and meditate. The Gospels show that on many occasions Jesus went up on a mountainside by himself to pray (e.g., Matthew 14:23). But ascending the highest peaks profits from teamwork. Although even great mountains have been scaled by individuals climbing alone, the lone climber has no one to help him or her and helps no one else – so everyone loses something. The same principle applies in obvious ways in our Christian lives. In spiritual climbing, you need a climbing buddy, or several. It’s a group activity.
• Safety in humility. Experiencing the majesty, vastness and age of mountains can be humbling, as many climbers and others have written. From Jane Austen’s “What are men to rocks and mountains?” to veteran climber Robert Macfarlane’s “Mountains refute our excessive trust in the man-made,” humans have frequently extolled these awesome pinnacles of creation. But every climber knows that staying humbly aware of one’s own vulnerability is a necessary part of climbing safety. So too, basic humility can be a big part of realizing our spiritual vulnerability to potentially deadly mistakes. “Let he who thinks he stands beware, lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).
• Use the right equipment. Some of the most basic climbing equipment is similar to the gear mentioned by the apostle Paul in the military equipment analogy he makes in Ephesians 6:10-18. Take, for example, the helmet of faith. In climbing a helmet is not so much for if you fall, but if things fall on you such as falling rock and ice chunks. Faith is a good helmet too, against unexpected onslaughts of life that seem to hit out of nowhere. Much of the equipment the climber uses is different, of course, but it carries its own reminders – for example, ropes. There is nothing like dangling from a rope with hundreds of feet of empty space below to help you appreciate the value of a lifeline. I think of prayer as a lifeline I don’t want to be without. If I let it slip, I usually find myself dealing with a hard fall.
• Don’t look back/down. More accurately, don’t focus on the down. Fear and vertigo can sometimes happen to even experienced climbers. There is also a spiritual vertigo. We can erode our ability to keep climbing by focusing on the past and the abyss of past sins. You have to believe in the rock to which you are anchored – what climbers refer to as a “bomber” or “bomb-proof anchor”. Psalm 121:1 (a song of ascents) talks about one: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord…” As Christians we know what that bomb-proof anchor is in our lives. “Though the mountains are shaken and the hills are removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord …” (Isaiah 54:10).
• Focus on the goal – and on the around. There is a weird thing about climbing. Looking up the climb ahead you get what is termed “perspective foreshortening” – the mountaintop may seem close at first, but it can seem to get further away as you climb. Life can feel that way, too, sometimes. You just have to be committed to keep climbing no matter how far the goal may still appear to be. On the other hand, while climbers have to focus on the goal in climbing, they try not to miss the pleasures of the spectacular views as they climb. Life should be enjoyed, too. Focus on the top, but don’t miss the scenery on the way up!
I knew a Christian climber who used to say he thought that God loves the mountains and climbed them, too. He quoted Amos 4:13 as indication of this: “He who forms the mountains … and treads on the heights of the earth…” I’m not so sure this verse actually means climbing the heights of the earth, but I do know that climbing mountains – or just reading about climbing them– can remind us of principles we need to keep in mind for the more important climb to which God calls us.
Business failures. Layoffs. A shaky stock market and weak economy. It’s not hard to find things to be anxious over today. If it’s not national crises, a variety of everyday problems can disturb us: the lump discovered on a breast; the divorce papers served yesterday; the wayward teen who felt the tug into rebellion; dwindling retirement funds.
If you find that fear of the future immobilizes you, try overcoming it through the simple act of remembering.
Remember the Creator
The God who created you controls your life. He who spoke the universe into existence understands economic downturns and oversees counseling sessions and chemotherapy. He rightly asks, “Who is my equal?” (Isaiah 40:25).
Because of God’s ownership, life, with all its fearful debris, rotates around the fixed axis of His divine sovereignty. “This is my Father’s world,” the hymn says — not yours, not the government’s, not the surgeon’s who will be operating in the morning. This doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen but that God will help you when you don’t know what to do. You can count on Him to give sanity in the midst of panic, and work bad into good — if you love Him (Romans 8:28).
It’s easy to forget this. One negative report from the blood test, a down day on Wall Street, and God shrinks. But the truth is, if you rightly remember the Creator, you shrink — not God: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, . . . what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3, 4).
Despite what you see or can’t see, what you feel or dread, God’s world has purpose and plan. Mistakes and mishaps do not have the final word.
Remember the past
God knows that our perspective of the future is often limited to what we can see. That’s why the refrains of “remember” and “do not forget the past” lace the Scriptures together. If you fear the future, try remembering “the deeds of the Lord” (Psalm 77:11).
Let Psalm 105 show you how. It traces God’s work in behalf of the Israelites: He protected them from oppression; permitted Joseph to be enslaved, planning the key to future survival through him; made the Israelites fruitful; empowered Moses and Aaron to perform miracles before Pharaoh and the people; sent plagues and led the Israelites out of Egypt; guided them with fire at night and a cloud by day; supplied food and water in the wilderness; gave them lands of other nations.
Notice the detail; it’s there to prove how essential a good memory is. Failing to recall God’s specific help in the past puts a person in danger of failing to depend on Him for the future.
That’s what happened to the Israelites: “They gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses . . .” (106:7). When the people faced new challenges after their deliverance, they refused to wait for God’s counsel because they had forgotten what He’d done (v. 13). In no time, forgetfulness gave way to rebellion, impatience, murmuring, complaining, envy, idolatry, and ultimately unbelief.
Likewise, when fear overwhelms, you tend to forget what God has done for you in times past. By now, you’ve probably racked up enough mileage to offer a fair survey of the road behind. Where in your journey did God intervene? When did He send a messenger of hope? When did He change an attitude and bring peace? How did He supply your needs? In custody battles, court appearances, caring for aging parents, adjustments to singleness, long-term illnesses, and separation through death and divorce, you can trace God’s providential hand.
You might try writing your own version of Psalm 105, especially if you find yourself more prone to the attitude in Psalm 106. Recounting the Red Seas in your past means that you can once again “Look to the Lord and His strength [and] seek his face always” (105:4).
Remember, God remembers
God has a unique memory. When we repent, He remembers our sins against us no more (Isaiah 43:25). But He never forgets those children He formed in the womb (49:15, 16).
Genesis offers an account of yet another dimension of God’s memory. Keeping it in mind will help you place a firm grip on fears about the future.
God decided to destroy the earth with a flood. But He promised to save Noah if he followed the instructions for building an ark and loaded family and animals in it. Will the pitch hold? Noah may have wondered. Is the wood strong enough to endure the torrents? Once the ark comes to rest, then what?
For forty days God remained silent. The writer of Genesis says that after the waters flooded the earth about five months, “God remembered Noah . . .” (Genesis 8:1). This doesn’t imply that God had forgotten His servant for a while and suddenly recovered His memory. It means that God was always mindful of His promise to preserve Noah, his family, and the animals (6:18) but had delayed fulfilling it.
A wind blew over the earth, and the floodwaters receded. In the seventh month, the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat and with it rested whatever doubts Noah may have had. When conditions were right, God permitted Noah, his family, and the animals to disembark into a fresh, clean world.
God has made many promises to us in His Word. Consider which ones you can look to when you’re paralyzed by fear of the future. He pledges strength and aid when you’re terrified (Isaiah 41:10). He vows that the waters will not overwhelm you, that the fire won’t scorch you (43:2). He promises perfect peace if you keep your mind riveted on Him (26:3).
Holding steady
Richard Fuller writes about an old seaman’s wisdom: “In fierce storms we must do one thing, for there is only one way to survive: we must put the ship in a certain position and keep her there.” Fuller likens our soul to a ship in a storm: We must put it in one position and refuse to move it, no matter what.
When the waves of fear roll you from side to side, exercising your memory holds your soul in a steady position of trust. The Creator’s control, His past help, and a sharp memory of His promises — with these, you can face the storms of fear with confidence.
*Reproduced with permission from The Bible Advocate
The New Testament tells us that one day a disciple asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Jesus replied: “When you pray, say …” and then he proceeded to give what is called “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9–13, and Luke 11:2–4):
We see that this prayer was probably intended as a model, which could be used as an outline and expanded in our own words, by the fact that the wording is different in the two gospels in which it occurs – so reciting its exact words is clearly not as important as following its points. The following guide gives examples of how the Lord’s Prayer can be expanded in our own words for regular formal prayer which effectively covers all aspects of our relationship with God. The scriptures given are examples showing the principles covered in each point of the prayer.
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
The first section of the prayer outline establishes our relationship with God as our Father and prepares our mindset for an audience with Him.
• Praise God as Creator of Heaven and Earth and Father of our human family (Genesis 1:1; 1 Corinthians 8:6)
• Thank God for the privilege we have of praying to Him in Heaven (Psalm 150:1; John 4:23)
• Thank God for the personal son/daughter relationship we have with Him (Romans 8:14-16; 1John 3:2)
HALLOWED [HONORED] BE YOUR NAME
The second section of the prayer outline offers true respect and praise to God – for everything He is and has done – and reminds us to honor His name.
• Praise for what God is – Creator, Ruler, Sustainer, Love, Righteousness, Mercy and Truth (Psalm 100:3-5; Psalm 145:8-17)
• Praise for all He has done – His compassion, patience, sacrifice and salvation (Psalm 146:1-10; John 3:16)
• Ask God’s help to honor His name, never misuse it, always use it with respect (Exodus 20:7; Psalm 86:12)
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
The third section of the prayer outline focuses on the establishment of God’s Kingdom and Will in our lives and eventually throughout the world.
• Pray for help to accept God’s will and that He grow His Kingdom in our lives and the lives of all believers (Mark 4:30-32; Romans 12:2)
• Pray for God’s help in bringing His truth to many more people, to continually grow His Kingdom (Luke 10:2; Matthew 28:19-20)
• Pray for leaders and those helping others that good may be done wherever possible (Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Timothy 2:1-2)
• Pray for the spiritual needs of God’s people and the support and guidance of His Church (Ephesians 6:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:1)
FORGIVE US OUR SINS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US
The fifth section of the prayer outline shows that we should ask forgiveness for our sins and the sins of others –as well as for help to forgive others.
• Ask forgiveness for our own sins, and give thanks for the sacrifice of Christ and God’s grace (Psalm 51:1-2; 1John 1:9)
• Ask for help in forgiving others fully as God forgives us; to let go of anger and bitterness (Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 6:14-15)
• Pray for those that sin against us that God be merciful to them as He is to us (Luke 23:34a; Acts 7:60)
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
The sixth section of the prayer outline requests God’s help, for ourselves and for others, to avoid unnecessary trials and overcome things that tempt us to sin.
• Ask for help in overcoming temptations and sins identified in our own lives (Luke 22:40; Hebrews 2:18)
• Ask for help for all those fighting weaknesses, addictions, sins (Hebrews 4:16; 1 Corinthians 10:13)
• Pray that those who have escaped sin will have the strength not to return to it (2 Peter 2:20; Galatians 6:1)
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
The seventh section of the prayer outline asks for protection from physical and spiritual evil, and for all fighting against evil or held in its sway.
• Pray for physical and spiritual protection for all who look to God for help, especially in persecution (2 Samuel 22:3-4; John 17:15-17; )
• Pray for all who are working to suppress evils that are harming people (Hebrews 13:17; Romans 13:3)
[FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. AMEN]
The final words of the Lord’s Prayer appearing in some translations were not in the earliest Bible manuscripts, but they reflect Christian traditions which remind us to:
• End prayer as we began, with praise and thanks (Psalm 9:1-2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Not all prayer is asking for something, but a great deal of it obviously is. When we do ask, do we pray mainly for our own physical and spiritual needs and concerns? There is no doubt that it is acceptable to pray for these things – we have Christ’s encouragement to do so – but that is only part of the picture we find in the words of Jesus and in the New Testament as a whole.
Jesus certainly commanded us to pray about our own needs. “Give us this day our daily bread” lies at the heart of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11), but we should never forget that all the petitions in that guide to prayer are for the needs of others – “us” – as well as our own.
Asking in Acts
If we continue in the New Testament and look at the Book of Acts, we find something very interesting. Acts continually speaks of prayer in the Church, but if we set aside the scriptures that simply tell us that the early church members prayed and we look only at verses telling us what the early believers were praying, in most translations we find only two verses in that book showing people praying for their own situations and twelve verses showing believers praying for the needs and welfare of others. This means that of the recorded prayers in Acts, some 83% are prayers on behalf of others rather than prayers for the individual who was offering the prayer.
If we have not thought about this topic before, the statistic may seem unexpected. Perhaps we would expect the ratio to be about 50/50 – prayer for others just as much as for ourselves. But the 83% prayer for others we find in Acts is a powerful statement of another way of looking at prayer – and the Book of Acts is not alone in taking this view.
Paul and Prayer
When we look at the writings of the apostle Paul, we find the principle corroborated. Paul speaks of prayer some 50 times in his epistles. Apart from non-specific examples, when we look at the nature of the prayers Paul mentions we find only three instances of praying for one’s own needs. Seven times Paul speaks of praying generally; but in some 40 of the 50 instances (80%) where he mentions specific things being prayed about, we find him speaking of praying for others or urging people to do likewise. For example, Paul tells us that he and his fellow workers prayed constantly for the spiritual needs of others:
“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).
And he urged others to continually do the same:
“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 saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:18-20, etc.).
So the pattern we found in Acts where we are told what people were praying for is repeated in the epistles of Paul where he so frequently tells what we should be praying for. These facts should speak to us. It is not a matter of attempting to establish Christian practice through statistics. It is simply acknowledging that of the prayers recorded and commanded in the New Testament Church, the great majority – somewhere around 80% – are prayers for others.
Applying a Principle
That’s why we can think of this fact as the 80% principle of what we ask for in prayer. It’s an estimated number with no claim to being correct to the third decimal place, but it’s a rounded number with a clear message. The 80% principle does not mean we should not pray for our own needs – and in some circumstances, of course, our own needs may be urgent and take full precedence in our thoughts. But the 80% principle opens a window for us to see how the early Church saw prayer, how Paul encouraged us to pray, and it gives added meaning to Jesus’ words that we pray for “us” in the plural.
We certainly don’t need to feel constrained to structure our prayers to a certain percentage in a certain way, but if we are growing more and more like the One to whom we are praying, the chances are that our prayers will become increasingly full of the needs of others and reflect our concern for them. If our prayers are growing in that direction and we begin to see the needs of others as usually greater than our own needs, we can trust that God will be pleased with our prayers – perhaps 100% pleased.
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