“Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).” Luke. 18:1. Amp.
Jesus prayed often, and if He found praying necessary in His life, surely prayer ought to have a significant place in the lives of each one of us! To simply begin the day with a few lines, and to close it with a couple routine words—is not the effectual fervent prayer that should characterise the true believer. Mothers can lift up their concerns to God in prayer while mending clothes, or doing house chores and preparing meals. Fathers can meet God on behalf of their son’s in school or their daughter that is already married who is now raising a family of her own.
The normal Christian life should be a life of regular, daily prayers, coupled with answers to prayers. In the model prayer, Jesus taught His disciples to pray daily for supply and to expect to get it, and to ask daily for forgiveness and to expect to be forgiven. While answered prayer should be the normal experience, it remains a fact that many times we fail to get the answer to the cry of our hearts. Sometimes there are certain hindrances that cause God to withhold the request we ask.
God says, “You ask and receive not because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts” James 4:3. The first thing that hinders prayer and causes God to withhold what we ask, is a selfish purpose in our praying. If we pray simply for the gratification of self and for the satisfaction of our own pleasures, the Bible says we ask amiss. We may even ask for perfectly legitimate things (things which are according to God’s will as revealed in the Scriptures), but if we ask from a selfish motive instead of for the glory of God, He does not promise to give our request. He promised to supply our request that is in accordance to His divine will and counsel. We must walk our lives according to His divine purpose and counsel.
FURTHER READING:
“With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.” Eph. 6:18.
“Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” Col. 4:2.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, thank You for another day and another privilege to walk on the earth and enjoy grace from the depths of Your love. Father, I ask that You anoint my head with fresh grace and favour to walk upon my high places. Lord break the yoke of everything that hinders prayers and answers to prayers in my life in the mighty name of Jesus. Mine is a blessed life and a life of limitless possibilities in Jesus name, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Mark. 2:1-28. Mark. 3:1-35. Mark. 4:1-41. Mark. 5:1-43.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“Work Hard In Silence, Let Your Success Be Your Noise Not Your Voice.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria. http://www.thefortresschurch.com. Email:info@thefortresschurch.com.
