Travailing in Prayer

 

                                                    TRAVAILING IN PRAYER!

 

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians 4:19

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth AGAIN until Christ is formed in you.”

TRAVAIL is an unusual word that was used by the man that wrote two-thirds of the New Testament as it denotes a picture of a woman in labor giving birth to a child and the pain involved UNTIL the baby shows up!

Paul had led these people to the saving knowledge of Christ, and they were doing well, until they began listening to mixed messages and were being seriously misled. Seemingly, they had become argumentative, confrontational, and rude and they had stopped fellowshipping with each other! Once a close-knit group, they were now divided.

Isn’t that what we see happening all too often today?

He was obviously extremely concerned about what he saw happening and he shared his concern with them in pretty bold ways!

He chided them saying: “Oh foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth.” Galatians 3:1

It is interesting he was trying to get their undivided attention by not only calling them “foolish,” but he also asked them: “Who has bewitched you?”

The word, “Bewitched” in the Amplified Bible means they were being silly, thoughtless, unreflecting, senseless and inferred they had a spell cast over them which means they were not seeing things clearly at all! That’s big! 

Paul was bold in speaking the truth to them about their current state of mind, however, he was also quick in letting them know he would not leave them their but would TRAVAIL for them until he saw a rebirthing of the Christ-led life that would bring the blessings of God back into their lives.

Travailing to give birth also refers to intercessory prayer that can lead to deliverance and restoration for those that have become misled and have gotten off-track. It is one of God’s ways of freeing people from strongholds and walls the enemy of their soul has put around their minds to keep them from moving forward in the things God has for them!

With all the controversies and differences of opinions flourishing today, intercessory prayer seems to be needed more than ever! The Holy Spirit wants to lead and guide us as to how to pray in situations like these that not only involve families but also communities and our nations!

Hebrews 7:25” Christ always lives to make intercession for us.” 

It is important to keep in mind that through us being Christ’ Ambassadors on the earth on his behalf, according to 2 Corinthians 5:20, we have been given the task of making an appeal on behalf of Christ so that people can be reconciled to God and rescued out of the hand of the enemy. In fact, that Scripture even says we are to “beg” them on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. I personally believe to beg here indicates being bold in a straightforward but caring way that would touch their hearts!

It is important to note the meaning of Ambassador which is to act as a representative and speak as God’s emissary representing His Kingdom!

With that in mind, it would be helpful for us to ask ourselves in each instance that we are interceding about, WHAT WOULD JESUS PRAY?

Jesus’ brother James said tremendous power is released when we do the following:

“…Pray for one another that you may be healed and restored to a spiritual tone of mind and heart, the earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available dynamic in its working!” James 5:16

“Earnest and heartfelt” means to be intentional and specific as we rely on the Holy Spirit to show us how to pray so that tremendous power is released bringing dynamic results!

Also, it is very interesting that Jesus said we should pray the following prayer:

“Pray ye therefore the LORD of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest!”  Matthew 9:38

This is such an important prayer because the Lord knows whose words will touch the hearts of those we are praying for and who they will be willing to listen to!

The harvest is for the Lord, and He wants to use your prayers of travailing and intercession to bring a harvest of souls, healings, and deliverances in for His Kingdom! Remember Jesus’ words: “I came to give you life and give it to you in a more abundant way.”

Also, when people are facing difficult times, Paul encouraged us to pray this eye-opening prayer:

He said, “Pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being….” Ephesians 3:16

Who does not need strength and power operating in their inner man through His glorious riches paid for by Christ which are vast and unending? I sure do!

With this illuminating prayer in mind, could it be we have often prayed more about outward conditions and circumstances rather than zeroing in on asking the Holy Spirit to work through the inner man where strength and power through God’s glorious riches are needed first so that the magnanimous changes God desires for them can be manifest outwardly?

He did say it would be out of His glorious riches power and strength would come through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you!

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE:

When your prayers and intercession seem not to be working as quickly as you would like, even though something is actually happening behind the scenes when you pray faith-filled prayers, you can focus your mind on the following Scripture knowing God has already planned the perfect answer and perfect plan for them and you:

“For I know the plans I have for you (them), declares the Lord, plans to prosper you (them) and not to harm you (them), plans to give you (them) hope and a future!”  Jeremiah 29:11 Plans to PROSPER, give HOPE and a great FUTURE!

Pray as Paul asked us to pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his glorious riches of POWER and STRENGTH on those you love and pray for so they will be able to experience the love of Christ and his desires for them in all areas of life beginning from the inside out!

Pray it for yourself as well!

Amen…which means “So be it” in Jesus’ Name!

Diana