Be of sound judgment and sober spirit!

   The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 1 Pet. 4:7

   Prayer requires faith!
   The things which comes over the world in the last days are so frightening and so overwhelming, that those who belongs to the Lord and believes in Him, is tempted to let themselves draw into the fear the world has towards this. The world which has no place to turn to, or apply to in this need.
   You have presumably experienced how little it often takes, before it begins to accumulate for you and seem like something almost insuperable. You starts to doubt in the Lords goodwill and help, the disbelief and mistrust becomes more and more predominant. God must presumably have rejected the one who experiences the difficulties that I experiences! etc. You are no longer spiritual sober!
   To be spiritual sober is to stick to the Word of the Lord! - What He has said - and not to what we feel, perceives and thinks.
   If you stick to the Word of God, then you can pray in any situation, even if the prayer, according to your feelings, do not seem to reach the ceiling. It is one who have said so rightly: But God is under the ceiling!
   If Peter could say: «The end of all things is near,» at that time, what shall we say today?
   Since then the Gospel has - often under great and serious opposition, had its spreading throughout the earth, until it is only some few people who have not heard it today.
   And we are also seeing the signs of His coming constantly more distinct, not least Satans raging, because he knows that he has only short time left. (Rev. 12:12).
   Therefore, be of sound judgment and sober, stick to the Word of God, so you can pray!

E.K.

Holy Bible New American Standard Version
Translator: E.K.