OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - TALKING TO JESUS-07/05/2014
in today’s message, we have been asked to memorise
in today’s message, we have been asked to memorise
Matthew 7:7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you"
Today's reading was taken from Matthew
6:5-13 and the Bible reading in one year is Genesis 11:10-14:24
and Psalm 101 (Adeboye, 2014).
Quoted below is today's message for your input
Prayer is talking to Jesus. There is nothing as sweet as talking to
Jesus because the Most High loves to hear our voices. Prayer is the soul of man
talking to God. It is worship addressed to God the Father, in the Name of God
the Son, through the power of God the Holy Spirit. John 14:13 says:
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Prayer consists of at least four parts: these are adoration, confession,
thanksgiving and supplication. Adoration denotes praises and worship of God for
who God is. For example God is good, merciful, powerful and just. When you
praise God for who He is, rather than for what He has done for you, it is true
worship (Psalm, 95:6-7). The second part is confession or repentance from every
known sin (Psalm 32:5). This will be followed by washing in the blood of Jesus
Christ. If you are sanctified and have no sin to confess, wash in the blood all
the same; you cannot be too clean. Thanksgiving is the third division of prayer.
Be thankful for anything and everything that God has done (Philippians 4:6).
The fourth division is supplication. It is at this juncture that intercession,
requests, petitions and desires are addressed to God in the Name of Jesus
through the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 2:1). God answers prayers and
you can pray anywhere (1 Timothy 2:8). Just as you can pray anywhere, you can
also pray at anytime. You should pray daily (Psalm 86:3), and you should pray
always (Luke 18:1). You can take any posture in prayer. It is not only when you
are on your knees with your eyes closed that you can pray. You can pray as you
drive to work, while at work or while resting. A question many people ask
is, ‘What am I to pray for?’ Many people cannot pray for long because
their prayer is selfish, that is, they pray only for themselves. Prayers should
not be selfish. You can pray for the sick (James 5:13-16). You can pray for all
men: for the President, Governors, Pastors, Church Workers, the children, the
youths and the elders (1 Timothy 2:1-4). You should also pray for your enemies
(Matthew 5:44). Pray for wisdom and understanding (1 Kings 3:9). Pray for
personal safety and for the safety of others (John 17:15); pray for the second
coming of Christ, that you may be able to do the will of the Lord. You can also
include specific individual requests. By following these guidelines, you will
be able to pray without ceasing. We should be guided by the Holy Spirit in our
prayers (Romans 8:26-27). You must pray with humility and faith
Today's action point is: Using the suggested prayer points, pray persistently for thirty minutes.
Have you
really prayed using the suggested prayer points today? May God empower you to
pray more.
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