Righteousness - A basic foundation for effective prayers and fasting Part 4

In our previous series of teaching on “triplet armor of righteousness, prayer and fasting”, we were able to discuss how righteousness comes, what it offers and what makes one righteous, how we could walk in righteousness, the armor of righteousness, and when righteousness is missing. The central message of this series is the heart issue. Having a right heart for God to come in and commune with us through prayers and studying of the Word.

In the above listed series previously discussed we could see how it is very important for every born again Christian who has not started putting into use his or her righteousness to consider stepping out in faith to start exercising that free gift of God. We could do it by abiding in Christ to live a lifestyle that is in harmony with our Christian values. When we commit ourselves to live a life that expresses the image of Jesus Christ, the life of God will gradually permeate our lives to infuse the strength we need to live a victorious Christian life. But for this God’s kind of life giving strength to come in and remain in us we need a daily healthy relationship with God and others. The book of Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that we are being taken care of “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. But we cannot have a high priest unless we identify ourselves with that high priest. It is only through this identification that the high priest could be touched with the feeling of our infirmities so as to help us always out. Note the term infirmities here could mean limitations and weakness.

As I did mention previously that righteousness is a basic foundation for effective prayer and fasting; it becomes clear then that fasting and praying without right living or right standing with God makes our prayers ineffective. No amount of prayer and length of fasting we could observe will move God if we still practice sin. Sins are clogs that stop the life of God flowing through us.

Note, God is not looking for those who are perfect or those who were born with a certain degree of self-discipline but He is looking for those who are willing to commit to the offer they made on the day they accepted Him into their lives. Those offers are, their lives, wills, emotions and their all. They are the spiritual legal permits God needs in order to take the occupancy of our lives. Once we keep these offers submitted to Him then He will take the full control of our life. Note the term taking control of our lives does not denote that He controls our lives like a robot. That is not God; He does not control us in that way. The control in this term is that He takes the full responsibility of our entire needs- spiritual, physical, emotional, social etc. It is through this way that we can effectively fast and pray with greater results.

Remain blessed