Long-time Christians know that life is a mixture of "battles and blessings".
So, how do we pray as we travel this up-and-down road?
The apostle Paul says we pray much the same way in good weather and bad. We take everything to him in prayer - good and bad - and we give thanks to the Lord because we know he is good and he gives good things to his children.
And the apostle's life is just as a good a guide to how we should pray. As he travels life's bumpy road, Paul always looks beyond himself to what God wants - he is outward-looking.
A couple of things reminded me of these truths this week - a passage in a devotional on "battles and blessings" by Nicky Gumbel, Anglican pastor of Holy Trinity Church Brompton, London, England, and a men's group discussion on Colossians 4:2-4.
"When we are in the battle, it is hard to believe that it will ever come to an end," writes Gumbel. "When we are in a period of blessing, we sometimes expect it will go on forever. But life is not like that. There are battles and blessings."
So, we have to "learn to steer through battles and blessings".
How do we do that?
The first answer that occurs to me is Paul's well-known statement in Philippians 4:6-7:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I must admit I often let go of this truth and turn inwards, focusing on my troubles rather than on God. But when I spend time in giving thanks for the many good things in my life - the Lord, in particular - my perspective changes and my view of life improves.
Of course, there is the danger that we will forget to pray at all if things are going so well that we feel no need to pray.
So, that brings me to the second way to navigate through the "battles and blessings" of life - turn our attention to what God wants in our lives.
Every Christian is given a commission by God to "be" Christ in our own little world. God has a mission for each one of us.
That came out in our men's Bible study of the Colossians 4 passage this week where Paul urges his readers:
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should."
We marvelled that Paul would be more concerned about taking advantage of opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ than he would be about his own desperate situation - a prisoner in jail.
Paul put God first in his life. This wholehearted commitment to what God wanted in his life helped him overcome all the suffering he endured.
I believe God wants to hear about our personal problems and needs. Paul says we should take everything - good and bad - to the Lord in prayer.
But I also believe I am called to pray with certainty that, ultimately, everything in my life is in God's hands.
He is preparing me - through battles and blessings - to be more like Jesus and ready for an eternity with a loving God.
So, how do we pray as we travel this up-and-down road?
The apostle Paul says we pray much the same way in good weather and bad. We take everything to him in prayer - good and bad - and we give thanks to the Lord because we know he is good and he gives good things to his children.
And the apostle's life is just as a good a guide to how we should pray. As he travels life's bumpy road, Paul always looks beyond himself to what God wants - he is outward-looking.
A couple of things reminded me of these truths this week - a passage in a devotional on "battles and blessings" by Nicky Gumbel, Anglican pastor of Holy Trinity Church Brompton, London, England, and a men's group discussion on Colossians 4:2-4.
"When we are in the battle, it is hard to believe that it will ever come to an end," writes Gumbel. "When we are in a period of blessing, we sometimes expect it will go on forever. But life is not like that. There are battles and blessings."
So, we have to "learn to steer through battles and blessings".
How do we do that?
The first answer that occurs to me is Paul's well-known statement in Philippians 4:6-7:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
I must admit I often let go of this truth and turn inwards, focusing on my troubles rather than on God. But when I spend time in giving thanks for the many good things in my life - the Lord, in particular - my perspective changes and my view of life improves.
Of course, there is the danger that we will forget to pray at all if things are going so well that we feel no need to pray.
So, that brings me to the second way to navigate through the "battles and blessings" of life - turn our attention to what God wants in our lives.
Every Christian is given a commission by God to "be" Christ in our own little world. God has a mission for each one of us.
That came out in our men's Bible study of the Colossians 4 passage this week where Paul urges his readers:
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should."
We marvelled that Paul would be more concerned about taking advantage of opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ than he would be about his own desperate situation - a prisoner in jail.
Paul put God first in his life. This wholehearted commitment to what God wanted in his life helped him overcome all the suffering he endured.
I believe God wants to hear about our personal problems and needs. Paul says we should take everything - good and bad - to the Lord in prayer.
But I also believe I am called to pray with certainty that, ultimately, everything in my life is in God's hands.
He is preparing me - through battles and blessings - to be more like Jesus and ready for an eternity with a loving God.
