For everything

Maintenance is one of those human being related activities that touches everything related to our existence. These bodies we live in function better with proper rest and exercise. Everything we have built requires maintenance, it keeps those things functioning properly. The frequency that our creations are used, or it is subject to harsh conditions, the more and or special maintenance procedures may be required. And so it is with our decisions to live for Christ, we must perform proper and regular maintenance activities to keep our relationship strong so that we can resist the temptations to break our commitments to live as Christ lived.

We should always pray and not faint

Probably the most important maintenance procedure we have for our spiritual well being is prayer. Prayer, the simple process of speaking to God. Jesus gave us a model prayer in Matthew 6:9b-13 (NIV), “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” I am not going to try an analyze these words of Christ here, just simply speaking to God, that’s prayer. I have heard it said that God wants a personal relationship with us. Isn’t that wonderful, the creator of all things wants us to keep an open dialog with him. Although he does not talk back much, I know he is always listening.

There is another Biblical reference to prayer, James 5:16b (KJV), “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” That word effectual, I take it to mean speaking with a definite purpose in mind, then the King James has fervent as a topping. So this maintenance activity of prayer should have purpose and some effort behind it.

Last Biblical reference, Jesus was speaking in Luke 18:1b (NIV) and said, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint“. The more often we pray, the stronger our spirit man becomes, just as the more often a husband or wife takes time to have simple conversations with their spouse, the stronger their marital relationship should become.

Prayer Booster

As I mentioned at the start, some situations call for special maintenance activities. And when that is the case, Jesus gave us ways to boost our prayer lives. In the 2 verses following the model prayer, Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus states “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Practicing the process of forgiveness opens us to unlimited forgiveness opportunities offered by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Then we put ourselves in that “righteous man” realm previously mentioned in James 5:16b.

Jesus gave us another prayer booster in 3 verses following the power of forgiveness, verses 16-18 (NIV), “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Jesus does not state any particular benefits for fasting, but he gave a correct method for this maintenance boosting procedure. When It is hidden from those around us on this earth, our heavenly Father is paying closer attention to us and our prayers. So this fasting procedure or process makes praying more effective, helping to tune up our spiritual being.

Conclusion

In today’s world, we hear of too many Christian leaders or prominent Christians that have fallen victor to sinful temptations. And those are just the ones that make the news headlines. If we Christians perform regular and proper maintenance, we will resisted these sinful temptations. But thanks be to God, the finished work of Jesus Christ can grant us forgiveness of our sins if we repent and ask the Father for the same. But, the damages caused by those sins might never be recovered, so let us all remember that “Maintenance is Required”.