The Practice of It is Written Prayer
The crescendo of the Cross was composed in the wilderness.
Jesus settled it long before the sound of the nails fixing His hands to a wooden cross, the cleansing last breath as He committed His spirit to the Father, or the quiet authority of the angelic herald’s words to Mary, He is not here, He has risen!
Before Jesus’ earthly ministry began, Satan tempted Him in the wilderness. Each confrontation was both a challenge to Jesus’ identity and a distortion of the truth.
Every one of Jesus’ responses began with the words, it is written…
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:3,4).
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’
”Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:6,7).
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:9-10).
Jesus lived His life on earth every minute, every hour, every day, according to the words of God. All the way up until the last day, the last hour, the last minute He drew terrestrial breath.
It is Written Prayer was His practice.
It should not surprise us if, when we say yes to God’s call in our lives, we are plunged into the dark, tangled wilderness. The enemy lurks like a lion and begins his temptation, challenging our identity and the Truth that has set us free.
Do not be dismayed. Jesus has shown us the way through the wilderness.
We, too, can discern the tempter’s distortions and respond with Truth. Following Jesus’ example, believers through the ages have found it to be powerful and effective. It is Written Prayer is a spiritual practice worth adopting. It has torn down strongholds and produced many breakthroughs in my life during dark and difficult trials.
Jesus taught us how to stand against the enemy by knowing and responding with the word of God.
I am not suggesting we use the Bible like a charm or talisman to ward off evil. The Bible contains Truth and leads us to Him who is the Truth.
Jesus is the Truth.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
The truth sets us free.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
The Bible is not just a book of inspired words. It is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, able to divide our thoughts from our intentions.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
Jesus is the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).
In the wilderness, Satan was using the word of God to tempt the Word of God. How utterly deranged!
Jesus, who is the Word of God, responded with Truth and overcame. This is how we, too, overcome.
Do you find yourself in the wilderness today? It may be a very telling clue. Perhaps you are on the cusp of your life’s most important work, a service unto God that will produce life instead of death, hope instead of despair, beauty instead of ashes. Be sober and alert. Know how to respond to the enemy when he whispers his lies to your soul. Know what is True.
In an era of “Know Your Own Truth,” this may sound tricky.
Make a Resurrection Day Resolution to read the Bible every day.
It is Written Prayer flows out of reading and knowing what is written. It is Written Prayer gets easier as you walk with Jesus and spend regular time with Him in the word. Read the word, walk with the Word, and you will be equipped to practice It is Written Prayer.
When the trials come, when the lies sound like truth, when temptation wraps its tendrils around your mind, respond with It is Written Prayer and you will see a breakthrough. #thewaythetruththelife #ResurrectionDay Share on XTell the tempter what God says. Speak what is true. Stand on it, immovable. Rather than know your own truth, know the Truth that sets you free.
Easter Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, seems a perfect time to recommend this practice to you. After all, the resurrection is the product of It is Written Prayer. It is written made it is finished possible.
What resurrection might God have in store for you? What life might He plan to bring forth from your commitment to follow Him? How might He transform the world through your obedience to His word?
Lord, sharpen my mind and spirit to respond to challenges in my life with Your word. Increase my faith and grow my belief. Amen.
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