Q: What is the purpose of "prayer"?
A: Prayer is an opportunity to know God and all that we have been given through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a personal, intimate and honest time to speak with and, more importantly, listen to God. It is why God removed the barrier of sin that stood between us and restored His life to all who place faith in Jesus Christ. Because of that we are able to approach God in confidence as a child approaches a parent, without fear of condemnation or rebuke. Prayer is not using God as a vending machine to get our flesh blessed. Prayer is not repeating Old Testament prayers (i.e. Lord's Prayer) given to Jews. Prayer is not a formula (i.e. ACTS) to be invoked in order to talk to God. Prayer is not getting others to pray "for" us (intercessory), but they can pray with us (in agreement). God indwells each believer. Therefore, we have just as much access to Him as the next Christian.
We are told to pray in secret which eliminates much of the modern forms of "public" prayer we see today. We pray in secret because that is the only time we are truly honest with ourselves and God. It is there we are free from the pressures put on us by fellow Christians or others in our lives. We are told to pray unceasingly which eliminates much of the prescribed forms of prayer. The key is to remember to listen to God more than you speak to Him. That is why we have two ears and one mouth. When God responds to you it will be confirmed in your Spirit and not contradict His Word. He doesn't need to use others to "give you a word of knowledge" in order to speak to you. You are His child. Go to Him like He is your Father because He came to us in love. Be blessed.
Q: Instead of “criticizing” your brothers and sisters in Christ when they mess up, or when they go threw trails and tribulations turn away, why don’t you tell them they can “LEAN ON YOU."
A: "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:1-2)." We restore a Christian by reminding them that the sin they are trapped in is not separating them from God, but rather inconsistent with who they are in Christ. We go to them and ask them what they believed that sin was providing for them that they do not already have in Christ? The Bible tells us that anything that is not of faith is sin. Therefore, when we are sinning it is an indication that we were not trusting the Lord. Remember what it is that God rescued you from and go to that person trapped in sin and use your experience to lift them back up. And be mindful to do so even when the person you are comforting has sinned against you."Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God (2 Cor 1:3-4)." Lean on Me because I am leaning on Him. Be blessed.
Q: What can we as christians do to keep from living a "defeated" life?
A: I don't accept the premise of the question. It assumes Christians should be living "victorious" lives. I submit that our lives are not about living in "defeat" or "victory," but living in accordance to the truth that has been revealed to us. Many Christians, through poor teaching and discipleship, believe that they are to live a life of obedience and repentance. Therefore, if they obey enough God somehow owes them blessings. Usually, these are blessings of the flesh; financial, relationships, health, etc. It leads them to believing that the circumstances of their lives are a reflection of God's love for them and/or their commitment to God. Honestly, this only leads to a life of sin. The reason someone would believe they are living a "defeated" life is because they are looking for unconditional love, acceptance and meaning and purpose to life apart from a relationship with their God.
God created us to have these desires, but only so they could be met by Him. When we don't feel He is meeting those needs we turn to the world, or religion, to have them met. And all they can offer us is a false substitute that can only be realized through some form of sin. There is a reason a person like the Apostle Paul can say he can do all things through Christ that strengthens him, despite being in prison, shunned by the world and headed for death. He knew who He was in Christ and all he had been given as an inheritance through faith. It helped him live above his circumstances not to see them as a reflection of God's acceptance of him. Saints, my prayer is that you understand all that you already have been given by God through faith in Jesus Christ. Be blessed.
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