Conversation with Jesus
PRAYER
Prayer is an essential spiritual discipline which helps us to develop intimacy with God. We were created to desire an intimate relationship with God, something in our lives desires intimacy with our creator. The bible says in the cool of the day, God communed with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve knew the voice of the Lord. Unfortunately most people do not have a consistent and effective prayer life. The more we pray, the deeper our relationship with God becomes. Although Jesus was the son of GOD, He took prayer very seriously. Jesus spent the whole night praying on several occasions. Luke 6:12, Mark 1:35 and Luke 18:2.
“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”. James 4:3, whenever we ask God for something we must ensure it is in line with God’s will for our lives. 1 John 5:14-15 also reads “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him”. A lot of God’s power is at our disposal when we pray correctly. The bible recounts numerous stories of how miracles have happened because of prayer. For example, Joshua prayed and the sun stood still, Joshua 10:12. God added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life after praying in 2 Kings 20:11. After the church prayed earnestly for peter’s release, an angel appeared and released Him out of jail. Nothing is off-limits for prayer.
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation”, Matthew 26:41a. Pray so that you would not fall into temptation. When your prayer life is dormant the devil becomes active. Remember the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. Always pray and never give up. Save well in the prayer bank, your investment determines heaven’s response. Pray into your future that you would remain in the will of God for your life. Prayer also helps you to seek direction from God. Proverbs 3:5-6 reads “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. We must also prayer with the spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:15a “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also’’.
Avoid procrastinating prayer; you may be missing on a blessing. Remember that no matter what you are praying about God hears your prayer. God’s answer may be no, yes or wait. God’s answer is always the best. For God has your best interest at heart. His will is perfect for us. Stand on GOD’s Word to pray, pray scripture back to God. Faith in God is an important aspect of prayer. Remember that unbelief limits God to intervene in your situation. When praying ensure you have confessed all your sin. Jesus prayed a lot on earth, how much more you and I.
Psalm 145:16-19 You (God) open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Mark 11:24, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
”James5:16b, the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Ephesians 6:18, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
James 5:13a Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
