RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL ;
PRAY WITH FOCUS AND CLEAR DIRECTION ;
Saturday, December 28th ;
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome;
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God (Philippians 4:6 AMPC).
One of the challenges that many have with prayer is the lack of focus. When you pray, you must have focus. David, in one of his prayers, said to the Lord, “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: UNITE MY HEART to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11).
Notice the underlined expression! The New International Version puts it this way: “…give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” So, in prayer, focus your attention on the Lord, and be conscious of what you’re praying about. Some people pray about so many things, and a moment later, they don’t remember what they prayed about. If you don’t remember what you prayed about, how would you know when God answers?
You have to learn to keep record of what you say to the Lord in prayer; be specific. If there’re things you’re concerned about that you’d like to pray about, write them or make a mental note of them when you pray. Then as you pray, receive.
What God wants is that you express your faith in specific terms. Faith makes you a possessor. When you have made your definite request of the Lord, rejoice and give Him glory, knowing that it’s done. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).
CONFESSION
Dear Father, thank you for the privilege and blessing of prayer; my faith is strengthened, knowing that you hear me always when I pray. Thank you for your love and grace, and my oneness with you. I’m delighted at the opportunity to change lives and hopeless situations through prayers. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY: || 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. ||
|| Philippians 4:6 AMPC Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([a]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. ||
|| John 16:26-27 AMPC At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf [for it will be unnecessary]. 27 For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father. ||
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Revelation 19:11-21 & Zechariah 9-11
2-Year Bible Reading Plan=> Acts 4:23-37 & Ezra 7