Life is War

John Piper nailed me today.  He pointed out that I fail to think of life as war and instead move happily through my day in pursuit of peace, harmony, beauty, and a catchy little song.  I'm a born optimist, it's true, but optimism makes my prayer life weak.  This quote from the book, Let the Nations be Glad, woke me up this morning.

Life is war.  That's not all it is.  But it is always that.  Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth.  Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief.  It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. -John Piper

Oh my. Forgive me for my lack of insight.  Even as I see death and destruction around me, I still recline in my comfortable, insulated life and forget that a spiritual battle rages.  Darkness wants my children.  It wants all our children.  It woos them with promises of comfort, acceptance, excitement.  Now right there is a war worth praying over.