Over the last fifteen years or so, I have subscribed, off and on, to a news periodical that serves to keep me up on current events both nationally and internationally. During these years, I have had stints where I devour new issues when they arrive in my mailbox. Other times, I never even open the magazine before it winds up in the trash. On a few occasions, I have deliberately allowed my subscription to lapse because I lost interest and felt like it was a waste of money. Oddly, after several months, I'd find myself missing the magazine. That always led to a subscription renewal that would last for another few years. Even though the publisher probably wishes I were more faithful, it matters little in the grand scheme of eternity whether I'm a devout reader or not. Not so with the Christian life.

  In our Sunday bulletin, we recently changed the format of our Prayer Corner. Where we used to have a list of several dozen names each week, we now weekly rotate the categories of folks with general health concerns, those fighting cancer, and families and friends with various needs. We also modified our weekly prayer focus and instituted what we titled "Prayer of the Valiant."

  For fifteen weeks now, we have introduced a new prayer of courage. It's meant to serve as a guide for us as we kneel before God on our own throughout the week. While one certainly could pray it verbatim, it's always nice to put the prayer into personal words-to customize it, if you will, so that it more precisely reflects the distinct longings of each person's heart. The emphasis on courage that is seen in the title, "Prayer of the Valiant," is because living the Christian life is not a half-hearted endeavor. It's a path that calls for persistence and unrelenting resolve despite plenty of pushback.

  In Mark 8, Jesus says that to follow him means to "deny ourselves," "lose our life," and "take up our cross." Those are pretty expensive requests. I, by nature, want to indulge myself, avoid crosses, and preserve my life. Additionally, spiritual warfare is a reality for every Christian (Ephesians 6) and the minions of darkness have a vested interest in seeing the children of God tripped up in their walks of faith. With these natural and supernatural types of resistance to our faith journeys, one begins to realize that valiance is, indeed, a virtue of the Christian life.

  Finally, lest anyone feel guilt over having insufficient courage, bear in mind that God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Any deficiency we may find in the bravery department can be made up for in the provisions God has made for us. We are invited to draw upon his strength and power to compensate for our weakness. I'm praying for all of you, that God would strengthen your hearts as you walk in the calling you have received. I also pray that the Prayers of the Valiant would be your prayers as you seek to deepen your faith roots in the hope and knowledge that Christ is sufficient, not only for our salvation, but for the victorious living we all long for from day to day. God be with you all!

Following are a few of the various Prayers of the Valiant. Make them your own and impress them into your hearts and minds.

Prayers of the Valiant :

#1   "Father, help me to see every person, even my worst enemy, with eyes of compassion.   Grant  me the strength to treat them with the kindness and respect they have not earned."

#2  "Dear God, your Word tells me to fix my eyes on what is unseen, that what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Help me be godly even in my deepest longings."

#3  "Righteous Father, I know you are trustworthy and that, with your strength, I can accomplish whatever you set before me. Grant me courage to face the road ahead. Help me to press forward despite uncertainty. Teach me to persevere in all things."

#4  "Heavenly Father, fill me with a passionate desire to know you more. Give me an insatiable hunger for your Holy Word that I might deepen my understanding of who you are and what that might mean for my life. I want you to be my deepest longing  and highest affection."