Life often throws you for a loop. Constant hassles, put-downs, seemingly random disappointments and the daily grind makes you question, “What’s the point? Life is not fair! I can’t get ahead! Nothing I do seems to come out right!” Knowing that your life is part of an overarching cosmic struggle occurring in the heavenly realm helps to gain perspective in maintaining proper equilibrium through the seemingly random flux of life. By gaining perspective, then you can go on the offensive using a key weapon.
The Psalmist learned how God delivered in past generations, which encouraged him to trust Him for present deliverances. To triumph over the world, flesh and devil, he didn’t trust in His own strategies and resources, but in God’s guidance, power and authority. How can you discern whether you are trusting in yourself or God? Do you boast in your plans or God? (Ps. 44:1-8).
God allows defeat to occur in the cosmic struggle on earth, just as He did for the Psalmist. Defeat looks like dishonor, hate, scattering, reproach, scoffing, humiliation and being a laughingstock among the world (Ps. 44:9-16).
For God’s sake, believers are being killed emotionally and even physically. They are being considered as “sheep to be slaughtered.” The most important thing is to stay faithful to God while being crushed and experiencing death because He will have the ultimate victory as you take your authority in Christ through prayer (Ps. 44:17-26).
Rom. 8:18-39 provides overall perspective on the cosmic battleground between the forces of good and evil since Ps. 44:22 is quoted in this section. It’s comforting to know that your future glory will make suffering look like child’s play. God’s ultimate purpose is to redeem your bodies with full rights and privileges as His child (Rom. 8:18-25). You embrace the benefits of sonship through Spirit-directed prayer by first listening to Him and doing what He says (Rom. 8:26-27). God’s great love for you provides the motivation for prayer (Rom. 8:28-39).
God limits Himself and His work in the world by whether you pray. Are you exercising your rights and privileges by praying?
