Published: 14/07/2022
Prayer: Glorifying and Magnifying God
Prayer is synonymous with and an act of glorifying and magnifying God. A humble prayer brings God's presence and peace, as stated in Scripture: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3, NIV)
Caring for Both Body and Soul:
Human souls are created to glorify and magnify God forever. Therefore, it's essential to give special care to both the soul and body, as the body tends to hinder the soul from glorifying God, as written in Scripture: For the corruptible body presseth down the soul, and the earthy tabernacle weigheth down the mind that museth upon many things. (Wisdom of Solomon 9:15, KJV)
Glorifying God with Body and Soul:
As long as we are embodied, we must magnify and glorify God with both our body and soul. As Scripture states: but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Genesis 2:17, NIV)
The Consequences of Disobedience:
Consequently, as long as Adam and Eve didn't eat the forbidden fruit, their soul and body continually glorified God. However, when they disobeyed, neither their body nor soul were suitable for glorifying God. Both became discordant, like a musical instrument that's out of tune, because excessive love for the body leads to the soul's death.
Obedience and Glorification:
Jesus emphasizes, as recorded in Scripture: If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10, NIV)
This means our body glorifies God when it doesn't engage in wrongdoing and continually obeys God's commandments. Our body doesn't harm our soul; instead, both our soul and body glorify God.
A Solemn Warning to the Ungodly:
Meanwhile, for those who fail to glorify God by neglecting to control their bodily desires, which can harm their soul, Scripture offers a solemn warning:
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. (Psalm 32:9-10, NIV)
The Body: Hinders Glorification:
When we die, we'll be left with only our soul to glorify God eternally. However, our body is inclined towards worldly desires, often succumbing to weakness and causing impurity to the soul. This is why our soul and body continually fail to glorify God, like a poorly tuned musical instrument.
Are we prepared to Die?
It's concerning to think that when God comes like a thief, will He find our soul immersed in His glory? Have we allowed our soul to continually glorify God?
As written in Scripture: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41, NIV)
Are We Not Our Own Judge First?
Humanity has the freedom to sin or not, just like Adam and Eve. God's grace is always available, but it's up to us to use our freedom wisely. If we choose to use our freedom correctly, we'll receive the grace to do so. However, if we abuse our freedom, the grace will diminish.
As we explore the concept of continuous prayer, we'll delve deeper into understanding the human body and soul, and how to unceasingly glorify our Lord God.
To be Continued…..
==> Stay tuned for our next article, where we'll uncover how 'What is Prayer? (Part-VIII)’ that transforms our faith journey.
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