Do NOT Begin to PRAY without doing this First: C.S. Lewis Messages

do this before praying prayer dear friends is one of the most powerful weapons in the Arsenal of a Believer if only Christians truly understood the immense power that flows from the presence of God when they pray they would never treat this sacred privilege lightly in the screw tape letters CS Lewis reminds us that prayer itself is an unbreakable Fortress and any attempt to lift the Mind beyond the merely human even briefly is something the enemy cannot allow a distracted prayer is a good start to the ruin of a Christian however many Christians fail to take

prayer seriously I want you to listen carefully for I am about to explain something that occurs in the spiritual realm When you pray you see there are two dimensions of prayer and only one is effective the Earthly and the Heavenly when God created man in the beginning as recorded in Genesis 1: 26 he gave man dominion over all the Earth God delegated his Divine authority to humanity bestowing upon us the supernatural ability to rule and Reign Over the world but for man to exercise this god-given dominion over the Earth correctly he must operate from a

higher realm not just the natural realm to have access to this higher spiritual realm from which you can govern and solve your problems you must pray and operate from the very presence of God in John 3:31 it is written he who comes from above is above all this means that when you are in the presence of God which is much higher than the Earthly domain you will be above all your problems difficulties or issues that the Earthly realm throws at you in the screw tape letters Lewis warns that whenever people are inclined to pray the

enemy must be active this is where he can intervene and distract them diverting their attention to their own concerns and thus away from True prayer when we get distracted the first way of praying happens which is how most people pray what I call praying In the Flesh praying In the Flesh occurs when a person is actively praying but their heart and mind keep wandering they are praying but at the same time they are spiritually distracted from the presence of God because their minds keep wandering as a result their spirit never truly gains access to the

Manifest presence of God this kind of person may go to church for years and pray but they will continue to return home exactly the same way they left Lewis speaks of how group prayer is more difficult because it is easier to pretend or go with the flow true prayer he says in Mere Christianity is in effect renouncing our own will and giving ourselves over to God's will what they don't realize is that their prayers have no effect in the spiritual realm because they are praying In the Flesh that is why you may sometimes be in

a prayer meeting and find someone falling asleep while the prayer is happening in the screw tape letters Lewis also notes that people's minds are always drifting away from the object of prayer to focus on themselves and their own efforts to pray do you realize that focusing solely on oneself is harmful that's why Lewis says in Mere Christianity that the essential VI the utmost evil is pride unchastity anger greed drunkenness and all that are mere flea bites in comparison it was through Pride that the devil became the devil Pride leads to every other Vice it is

the complete anti-god state of mind getting distracted from prayer to think about your own problems is like giving more importance to yourself than to this moment of connection with the divine this type of person does not truly understand what it means to be in the presence of God they treat spiritual matters casually and because they are not connected to the spirit of God at that moment the flesh takes over instead of praying fervently the mind and flesh begin to dominate the spirit they tend to fall asleep only when the sermon is happening or when prayers

are being said this person falls asleep during prayers but stays awake if they are on their phone in most cases the devil will always make you feel heavier to pray when God is about to do something in your life this person might wake up in the morning but instead of equipping themselves as soldiers of God and praying they prefer to lie in bed to pray before they know it they start to fall asleep to them they think they are praying but to God they are not praying the reason they are lying down is to keep

themselves in a comfortable state in Mere Christianity Lewis says that the presence of God is the hardest reality to remember and the easiest to forget during prayer our mind is inclined to wander and be distracted by what is tangible and immediate they feel too lazy to get up and that's why such prayers have little or no effect when it comes to the things of God you cannot be lukewarm you must choose to be alert or choose to be inactive in Revelation 3:1 1516 Jesus rebuked the church in leoda saying I know your Deeds that you

are neither cold nor hot I wish you were either one or the other so because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I'm about to spit you out of my mouth In this passage the Lord was rebuking the church in Le oysa for their spiritual complacency their deeds were neither fervently righteous nor weak when Jesus says I wish you were either cold or hot the term translated as cold is PCOS which means icy cold or fresh hot is Zestos meaning heated boiling or fervent Christ was essentially saying that he preferred Christians to be strongly devoted

to the things of God or openly opposed to his ways rather than being lukewarm or a mixture of the two then there is the second class of prayer which I call praying in the spirit this type of prayer is the only one that reaches the presence of God it happens when a person is fully immersed and surrendered to the presence of God in letters to Malcolm chiefly on prayer Lewis says that prayer is a response to the presence of God in our lives when we perceive this presence even in the smallest things we are truly

praying though who pray in the spirit are not distracted by what others are doing or worried about their situations they are simply enveloped by the presence of God a Believer who prays this way may be physically praying but their body Soul and Spirit will be completely focused on God if you want to be the kind of Christian who gets results from God you must learn to completely Surrender Your Spirit to the presence of God the moment you are praying you must actively position yourself to receive from God this means you should not be distracted in

mind body or Spirit the reason is that whenever a person is worshipping their spirit will be where their mind is for example if while you are praying or worshiping you keep imagining and thinking about the shopping you need to do later that day your spirit will not be in the presence of God but rather in the shopping center so although you think you are worshiping God in spirit and in truth you are actually worshiping what your mind is focused fed on Jesus said in Matthew 6: 21 for where your treasure is there your heart will

be also similarly Proverbs 23:7 States for as he thinks in his heart so is he but when a True Believer is worshiping God he or she may be physically present here on Earth but their real spirit will be in the Manifest presence of God in heaven although you see them right there beside you such a True Believer will be spiritually present Before the Throne of God it is only at this stage that such a Believer will begin to encounter the manifestations of God's presence because he or she is not worshiping In the Flesh at this

stage this person will be able to present their cases before God and they will be heard because this is the type of prayer God truly wants in the Gospel of John 4:4 Jesus said God is spirit and his worshippers must Worship in the spirit and in truth note that Jesus did not simply say that we should worship Him He said it must be done in spirit and in truth this means that if a person is praying or worshiping and their mind is wandering or they are distracted this type of worship is not in truth if

you continue to pray to God in this manner you will never get results in fact your Earthly problems will hardly respond to your prayers because for nature to obey the voice of a man such a man must be speak seeking or praying from a place of authority When you pray in the flesh your prayers will be Earthly and Powerless but when you pray in the spirit your spirit will be transported to the Heavenly realm because you are seated far above all principalities and Powers you are able to address these situations and they will bow to

your voice because you are speaking from the very presence of God true prayer transports you directly into the Manifest presence of almighty God it lifts our spirits to the Heavenly places where we are seated with Christ far above all powers and authorities as it says in Ephesians 2:6 so when your physical body kneels to pray on this Earth your spirit is immediately conducted into the very throne room of God you are instantly elevated above your circumstances above your enemies and above any opposition or demonic principality as it says in Ephesians 1: 21 Christ Reigns far

above every other government Authority power and Dominion when you enter the presence of God through prayer you share in this supreme authority of Christ therefore prayer is not just talking to God it is being transported to another dimension it is accessing Supernatural resources and Heavenly Realms Lewis says in letters to Malcolm chiefly on prayer that prayer is not a magic trick but rather a direct connection to the Divine Essence it is where the Realms of Heaven and Earth meet and where the authority of the almighty is manifested through our words that is why we are

exhalted in Ephesians 6:18 to always pray with all prayer and supplication in the spirit you are accessing the authority and power of the Holy Spirit When you pray therefore When you pray you must see it as much more than asking God for some trivial things you are entering the control room of the universe do not take this lightly approach god with reverence as the 24 Elders do in Revelation 4:10 understand the importance of prayer when you begin to pray from this higher spiritual realm everything you are addressing on Earth must obey your voice because you

are operating from above you have authority over everything below as it says in John 3:31 he who comes from above is above all he who is of the earth belongs to the Earth and speaks in an Earthly way he who comes from Heaven is above all therefore When you pray you are speaking from Heaven itself where you are positionally seated with Christ Lewis says in Mere Christianity that prayer is one of the means by which God invites us to participate in his Divine work it takes us to level of communion where his authority and power

are reflected through US thus your voice carries the authority and command of Heaven that is why you must never allow yourself to be distracted when praying protect your prayer time with vigilance because it is an incredibly serious and solemn moment when you gain direct access to the power and supremacy of Heaven the enemy will try everything to interrupt your prayers because he knows what is at stake in the spiritual Realm When you pray your focused prayers dismantle his operations and undermine his influence as James 5:16 says the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and

effective so pray with Focus Purity and faith not allowing the worries of this world to divert your mind from the spiritual realm fix your eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of your faith as it says in Hebrews 12:2 allow the holy Holy Spirit to intercede for you praying for God's perfect will to manifest on Earth you have no idea what God can and will do through your prayers this is not a tedious religious ritual but an a inspiring Adventure where the omnipotent and miraculous power of the almighty is accessible to you when you become

a Christian your spirit is instantly United with the spirit of Christ in letters to Malcolm chiefly on prayer Lewis says that prayer in a sense is not a request it is the union of the Soul with God and the seeking of his will true prayer is an exchange of intentions where we surrender our concerns and desires and receive the peace that only God can give so you become one with him as 1 Corinthians 6:17 says but whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit therefore When you pray your prayers are not

merely your words your prayers are the words of Christ the very Authority and power of Christ flow through your prayer voice you are an ambassador through whom the King of Kings speaks you are a conduit through which the lion of Judah Roars your prayers on Earth summon the forces of Heaven that is why Jesus said in John 15:7 if you remain in me and my words remain in you ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you for you when you are united in spirit with Christ through salvation his words remain in you

therefore you can pray his will and see it come to pass moreover When you pray Jesus Christ himself is interceding on your behalf Romans 8:34 says Christ Jesus who died more than that who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us so the Risen Jesus Christ the Eternal King is pleading your case before the father's Throne as you pray you also have the Holy Spirit interceding for you as Romans 8: 26- 27 explains we do not know what we ought to pray for but the spirit himself

intercedes for us through wordless groans and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the spirit because the spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God in essence When you pray you are exercising the authoritative Words of Christ that remain in you you are releasing his power through your prayers you have Christ himself interceding for you my dear friends never underestimate the power and importance of prayer it is the very Lifeline that connects us to the heart of God and unleashes his divine power in our lives and in this world

let us approach the the throne of grace with boldness and confidence knowing that we have a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses and invites us to come boldly before him Hebrews 4:1 1416 let us be diligent in guarding our prayer time setting aside the distractions and cares of this world to focus wholly on the presence of God let us pray in the spirit allowing our spirits to be transported into the Heavenly Realms where we are seated with Christ far above all principalities and powers and let us never forget that when we pray we are

not alone we have the Holy Spirit interceding for us Jesus Christ pleading our case before the father and the Very Words of Christ flowing through our prayer voice we are ambassadors of the king of kings conduits of his power and authority on this Earth so let us pray with fervency with faith and with the unwavering assurance that our prayers are heard and answered by the God who moves mountains Parts seas and raises the dead let us be a people known for our devotion to prayer for our willingness to T in the presence of God until

we see his will manifested on Earth as it is in heaven and as we pray let us also be attentive to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us and revealing to us the heart of the father let us be quick to obey his promptings to align our prayers with his perfect will and to trust in his timing and his ways for in the end prayer is not about getting what we want but about aligning ourselves with what God wants it is about surrendering our agendas and our desires to his perfect plan knowing

that he works all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose Romans 8:28 so let us approach the throne of grace with humility with reverence and with a heart that is fully surrendered to the will of God let us be a people who pray without ceasing who stand in the gap for our families our communities and our nation and who believe with unwavering faith that nothing is impossible with God Luke Van 1:37 May our prayers be a sweet Aroma to the Lord a fragrant offering that rises

before his throne and moves his heart to action May Our Lives be a testament to the power of prayer a living example of what happens when God's people get on their knees and cry out to him in faith and Desperation and may we never lose sight of the incredible privilege and responsibility we have as children of God to partner with him in prayer to be his hands and feet on this Earth and to see his Kingdom Come and his will be done on Earth as it is in heaven so let us pray dear friends with

all our heart with all our soul and with all our strength let us pray in the spirit let us pray in faith and let us pray with the unwavering assurance that our God hears us loves us and is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in US Ephesians 3:2 and may Our Lives be forever changed by the power of prayer as we walk in deeper intimacy with our heavenly father and see his kingdom advance in us and through us for his glory and for the

Salvation of many in closing I want to leave you with a final exhortation from the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:18 pray in the spirit on All Occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests with this in mind be alert and always keep on pray praying for all the Lord's people let this be our rallying cry our heartfelt commitment and our daily practice let us be a people who pray without ceasing who stand in the gap for one another and who believe with unwavering faith that our God is able to do far more than we could

ever ask or imagine may we never underestimate the power of a single prayer offered in faith and in the name of Jesus may we never grow weary in our intercession knowing that our prayers are making a difference in the Heavenly Realms and in the lives of those around us and may we always remember that when we pray we are not just speaking to the air but we are communing with the creator of the universe The God Who holds all things together by the power of his word and the one who loves us with an everlasting

love so let us approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that we have a great high priest who has gone before us and whoever lives to make intercession for us Hebrews 7:25 let us come boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Hebrews 4:16 and let us never forget that the power of prayer is not in the eloquence of our words or the length of our petitions but in the faith that believes the love that perseveres and the God who hears and answers

May our prayers be a reflection of the the heart of God a declaration of his goodness and a testament to his faithfulness may they be a light in the darkness a hope for the Hopeless and a source of strength for the weary and may they be a fragrant offering a sweet Aroma that rises Before the Throne of God and brings joy to his heart as we seek his face trust in his grace and surrender Our Lives to his perfect will for in the end prayer is not just a means to an end but an end

in itself a sacred communion with the God who created us who redeemed us and who longs to dwell with us forever so let us pray dear friends with all that we are and all that we have let us pray with boldness with perseverance and with the unwavering assurance that our God is able willing and eager to answer our prayers and to transform our lives and our world for his glory and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and The Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all as we seek

his face trust in his grace and walk in his ways now and forever more amen