Daily Thought

Our thoughts today focus on a very important aspect of prayer. It is that of perspective. We must see and understand the real issues at stake when we engage in prayer.

This prayer was for opened eyes. It was a request that the man might see things that were already there. The Syrian army was vast, and as the servant of God saw them, understandably he panicked, ‘How shall we do?’. So, the prophet prayed that his eyes be opened. What a contrast the second viewing opened to him. He saw the armies of the Lord encamped around the Syrian army. ‘Fear not’ it was said, ‘they that be with us are more than they that be with them’. This God-given vision enabled him to see the true position. What a blessing it is to see things from God’s standpoint.

This could provide valuable lessons for us in relation to our prayer life. Prayer is no easy business. In forming our estimate of spiritual involvement, we can make two mistakes.

We can underestimate the strength of those enemy forces that are against us: thus, we become complacent.

Yet the reverse can be true! We can overestimate the enemy’s strength, the powers of evil and Satan. We then forget the greatness of our resources, of strength in God. The first sighting of the man was that of Syrian armies surrounding a much weaker Israel. But then, with eyes opened, he saw the greater armies of the Lord.

What should our perspective really be? Surely that of Paul when he said, ‘What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?’, Rom. 8. 31. So many tokens of God’s grace and blessing have been revealed that we can say, ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us’, Rom. 8. 37. Such confidence can only encourage intelligent prayer.

We may, therefore, take courage. ‘Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’, 1 John 4. 4. It was not long in the experience of this servant before he saw the might of Israel triumph. ‘The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge’, Ps. 46. 7. May God give us right perspectives.