In a world growing colder by the day, we need the fire of God more than ever—and it starts with prayer.
In a passionate message at Hungry Generation, Matt Cruz called believers to return to the secret place and encounter the transforming power of God’s presence daily.
“You can’t be exposed to the light of His presence and not start shedding off your old ways,” he declared. “When you’re in His presence, something has to change. Something has to go.”
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Prayer, as Cruz points out, is not just spiritual routine—it’s spiritual warfare, and without it, we’re walking targets. Quoting 1 Peter 5:8, he warned, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” And who does the enemy go after? “The weak, the isolated, the distracted.”
He continued, “If you are weak in prayer, you are weak everywhere. If you are strong in prayer, you are strong everywhere.” It’s prayer that strengthens the spirit, quiets the flesh and equips believers to stand in victory instead of defeat.
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But pressing into prayer isn’t always easy. “The moment you try to pray, your mind starts racing. You suddenly remember the grass needs mowing or your room hasn’t been cleaned in three weeks.” The distractions are real—but they are strategic. “Prayer is the death of the flesh,” Cruz reminded the audience.
He shared a personal struggle of spending 55 minutes in a room trying to tap into prayer, overwhelmed by distractions and spiritual resistance. But when he opened Psalm 24 and began to purify his heart, he said, “I found myself ascending in prayer… aware of the presence of God.”
Prayer doesn’t always deliver you out of the fire, but it will carry you through it. “Prayer may not always be your way out, but it will always be your way through.” Whether facing challenges in your marriage, finances or mind, prayer is the lifeline to heaven’s power.
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It’s not enough to pray occasionally. Daily encounters are essential. “This charge on Sunday won’t last you all week,” Cruz said, comparing it to charging an electric vehicle. “We’ve got to cultivate the fire ourselves and be flame keepers Monday through Saturday.”
Praying in the Spirit, according to Ephesians 6:18 and 1 Corinthians 14:4, is one of the most powerful ways to stay charged. “Praying in the Spirit is like plugging in to heaven’s power source,” Cruz said. “The devil doesn’t even know what you’re saying… you’re speaking mysteries and magnifying God.”
In this urgent hour, the call is simple but radical: Don’t live empty. Don’t live dry. This week, let the fire fall afresh. Cultivate the flame. Keep the altar burning.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
