I found myself blessed and exhorted by a devotional from Greg Laurie yesterday regarding the misguided human efforts of too many Christians today. How desperately we need to return to preaching the Word and earnestly, sincerely praying without ceasing! (1 Thess 5:17, ESV) The Christian (and likewise the church) who doesn’t pray isn’t pursuing God … isn’t knowing God … is like a body dying and disconnected from life-support. Greg raised the example of the response of the church when James was executed and Peter was thrown in prison … “earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” (Acts 12:5) Politics, protests, boycotting, and such are not even mentioned … because we battle not against flesh and blood. (Eph 6:12) Our battles must begin and end and be executed in the arena of spiritual warfare … along with all the armor of God, we must pray! (Eph 6:13-18) Indeed, when the Word and/or the Spirit move us to action in the physical realm, then we must humbly, lovingly, and boldly obey (James 4:17); but not without being prepared for the real battle which is spiritual.