RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
TUESDAY 29 JANUARY, 2019
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, D.D
PRAYER ISN’T A STRUGGLE,
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
Sometimes, when you listen to some Christians pray, it’s obvious they haven’t really understood the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They tend to paint a picture that portrays struggling in prayer; an idea they got from the Old Testament. But we’re in the New Testament now, and Jesus, the One we’re following, never struggled in prayer.
Each time Jesus prayed, His words were simple and profound, full of faith and confidence. He prayed from the standpoint of His oneness with the Father. He had no consciousness of lack or need, and He wants you to have the same mindset. Imagine His comforting words in our opening scripture: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Why would anyone know this and struggle in prayer? Then, to think He’s even done it already takes it to a whole new level. He’s already given you the Kingdom.
Understand that the lesser is included in the greater. If you already have “the kingdom,” then you have everything that’s in the kingdom. In His Kingdom, there’s life, righteousness, love, joy, wealth untold, divine health, peace, etc.; all these are already yours. That means the struggle to get God to do any of these or more for you is unnecessary. They aren’t even things you should pray for; they’re part of your inheritance and rights in Christ.
If, for instance, you’re giving someone entry and rights to your house, you don’t carry the house to that person, be it a studio apartment, a bungalow or a three-storey building. You do so by giving the keys to the house to the person. Likewise, you have the keys to the Kingdom of heaven, which means you have access to both spiritual and earthly blessings: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
What you need is to live every day with the consciousness that the Kingdom is yours. And the Kingdom didn’t come to you empty; it’s loaded with goodness. Once you understand this, you’ll walk through life with boldness, knowing that the world is yours. Then, like Paul, you’ll always be thankful to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12).
PRAYERI thank you Lord, for the Kingdom belongs to me; therefore, I have no lack or want. I have all things that pertain to life and godliness, and I flourish exceedingly in every good work, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:Romans 8:26-27
26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.
Matthew 6:7-8
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Matthew 20:17-34 & Exodus 16-17
2-Year Bible Reading Plan
Matthew 10:34-42 & Genesis 29