TO THE BIBLE: John 14:18 AMP

“I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.”

LET’S TALK

Before the Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven, He assured His disciples He wouldn’t leave them as orphans. In other words, He didn’t leave us fatherless or helpless: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16 KJV). The Greek rendering for the phrase “another Comforter” is “Allos Parakletos,” which means “another one of the same kind that’s called to go together with, and walk alongside.”

When a little child loses his father or mother, or worse, both parents, he’s like a wanderer in the desert, without a guide or helper. He’s as one lost at life’s sea, without anyone to ask for directions or to provide answers to life’s critical questions. He’s left comfortless.

This is why it’s so important that you learn to pray for little children, especially those bereft of their parents, and be willing to help them. You don’t have to be an orphan before you’re touched with the feeling of their infirmity. Become concerned enough to lend a helping hand. When you do, the Lord will reward you for your noble work. Remember He said: “…Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).

Go Deeper

Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6; James 1:27

Pray

Dear Father, I rejoice in you for the opportunity to intercede and help children, especially the orphans. I pray that your comfort, grace, and wisdom mantle their hearts, and that they live out your dreams of a prosperous, victorious, glorious and excellent future that you’ve planned for them, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

1 Corinthians 14, Proverbs 3-4

TWO YEAR

Luke 19:41-48, 1 Samuel 18

Act

Spend quality time praying for the needy children in your neighbourhood and in other places that you know.

TO THE BIBLE: Luke 22:44

“And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

LET’S TALK

The Gospel we’ve been commissioned to preach and teach is the only hope and power for the salvation of mankind. That’s why praying the right way for its message to transform lives and make maximum impact is so important. You have to travail in prayer for the souls of men. Jesus prayed this way in Luke 22:44. The word translated “agony” there is the Greek “agonia,” which means “a struggle, as in, a fight”; it means contending with someone for something. It’s a wrestle, a fight of faith, a contention for the souls of people. In this kind of prayer, you’re literally seizing those lives from the stranglehold of satan.

Take for example, the case of a Christian who has become wayward and no longer takes spiritual activities seriously. You’d have to “agonise” and travail in prayer for him so he would become passionate again about the things of the Spirit. He may have stayed away from church, but you make your mind up to take church to him, to go share the Word with him that would strengthen and inspire him. However, you must first ensure that his heart is prepared to receive your message through this kind of prevailing prayer. Otherwise, he may listen to everything you say and remain unchanged.

Therefore, agonise for his soul; plead with tears on his behalf to the Lord, that He would grant him repentance unto the acknowledging of the truth. As you do this, the Spirit of God will move on his heart, and grace will be released on his behalf for a change.

Go Deeper

Genesis 32:24; Jeremiah 29:7 NIV; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Hebrews 4:15-16

Pray

Dear Father, I thank you for the power of prevailing prayers over those whom you’ve given me a responsibility to reach with the Gospel. I’m stirred today and I declare that the light of your glorious Gospel shines in their hearts, dispelling darkness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1, Psalms 139-141

TWO YEAR

Luke 19:1-10, 1 Samuel 14

Act

Spend some time praying for those you know that haven’t heard the Gospel and for those Christians who have been living in a wayward manner.

TO THE BIBLE: Jeremiah 20:9

“Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.”

LET’S TALK

Jeremiah 20 tells us how Prophet Jeremiah faced challenging times at a point in his life. His friends had betrayed him, and some people who hated his guts were waiting for him to slip up, in order to take their revenge on him. It was a time of tremendous pressure, but Jeremiah wouldn’t be quiet; he just had to speak out and proclaim God’s message. Nothing was going to douse the fire of his passion for the Lord (Jeremiah 20:9)!

The Apostle Paul was in a similar situation, but read what he said: “…None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Profound words! Jeremiah understood that the One with him was far greater than all his adversaries put together, so he boldly affirmed, “…the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten” (Jeremiah 20:11).

Take a look at your environment, your home, school, city and nation, and tell yourself, “I’m going to bring the glory of God into this place; I’ll proclaim the Gospel and see to it that the Kingdom of God is established in the hearts of people here.” Even if trouble and persecution break out on every side, remain strong. Don’t chicken out! Take a stand for the Gospel! Don’t keep quiet. Let soul-winning be your topmost priority. Let your greatest desire and pursuit be to bring praise to the Name of the Lord, and make His glory known.

Go Deeper

Romans 1:16

Pray

Dear Father, I thank you for giving me opportunities to reach people everywhere with your Word. I’m not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, because it’s your power of salvation to everyone who believes. Therefore, I’m committed to the spread of the Gospel to everyone, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

1 Corinthians 7, Psalms 119:113-176

TO THE BIBLE: 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

LET’S TALK

Some folks are only fervent in serving the Lord when everything is cool and calm. At such times, they’re full of testimonies of God’s goodness, loving the Lord and demonstrating His love to their world. But once trouble strikes, they get discouraged and wane in their commitment to the Lord. Don’t be that way; be on fire for the Lord all the time. Don’t be that person who only wants to “use” God to get something he wants or get out of trouble, and promptly forget about Him once the solution comes. Be instant in season and out of season.

No matter what happens in your life, never allow anything distract you or dampen your zeal and commitment to the Master. If you allow anything take your attention away from serving God, then it means you’re not steadfast; you’ve become moveable, but the scripture above says, “…Be steadfast, immovable….” As you remain steadfast in serving the Lord, the enemy will throw darts at you; refuse to be moved.

The Bible says, “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). When everything is going smoothly, be steadfast; and when it’s a period of adversity, don’t change from being who you are, because no matter what happens, you’ve been destined to win.

Go Deeper

Colossians 3:23-24; Romans 12:11-12

Pray

Dear Lord, I serve you in truth with all my heart, for you’ve been great in my life! I remain steadfast and unmovable. I’m fervent in spirit, serving you with joy, and bringing glory to your precious Name. Thank you for making me eternally triumphant, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

1 Corinthians 2, Psalms 107-108

TWO YEAR

Luke 17:1-10, 1 Samuel 2

Act

Today is a fine opportunity to assess your commitment to the Lord; worship and tell Him how much you love Him.

PRAY HIS WILL AND DO WHAT HE SAYS

TO THE BIBLE: John 17:9 AMP

“I am praying for them. I am not praying (requesting) for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You.”

LET’S TALK

The scripture above captures part of Jesus’ prayer for His disciples as He rounded off His earthly ministry. He said, “I’m not praying for the world.” How come He wasn’t praying for the world? He knew it wasn’t necessary, because He knew what the Father wanted, and He was about to do it. This is an example for us to follow. Don’t find yourself praying for something for which you already know the Father’s heart.

For example, Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” This is God’s instruction to His children to not neglect church meetings. Knowing this, it’ll be wrong to pray, “O Lord, please move me to go to church.” That’ll be completely out of place, because He already told you to take such gatherings seriously!

The same goes for soul-winning. It’s pointless for a Christian to say, “Father, make me win souls into your Kingdom.” He already said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This is His instruction to you; and when He gives you an instruction, the ability to act accordingly comes with it. So, just do what He’s told you, and His glory would be manifested in and through you as you do.

Go Deeper

Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 13:20-21

Pray

Dear Father, thank you for your Word, which lights up my path and leads me in the way that I should go. The Holy Spirit lives in me, and He guides and instructs me from within, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

Romans 16:1-27, Psalms 102-103

TWO YEAR

Luke 16:13-18, Ruth 3-4

Act

Write two things the Lord has told you to do today.

TO THE BIBLE: Romans 8:26

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

LET’S TALK

One of the many blessings of prayer is that it helps you shut out the world, so you can focus on the Lord and things pertaining to the Kingdom. Romans 8:26 shows you can take charge of situations from the realm of the spirit through prayer. You get to the level while praying, where the Spirit takes over with groanings and deep sighs, making intercession for you. At that point, you just know that all things are working together for your good! No matter the circumstance, you’re confident that, come what may, you’re a victor in Christ Jesus!

Prayer is so important for the Christian; it’s not just the words that we say during the times of prayer that matter, but the opportunity it provides for the Spirit of God to minister to us as we minister to Him. Prayer also involves meditation, and at such times of prayer and meditation, the Holy Spirit can open your eyes to see things you wouldn’t see otherwise. When you consciously separate yourself from everyone and everything else to commune with Him, He opens your eyes to spiritual realities and unveils His thoughts to your spirit.

You may even feel the urge to pray while running an errand or on your way to school; don’t hold back! Continue with whatever it is you’re doing, but pray in tongues while you’re at it. Understand that life is spiritual, and except you operate from the realm of the spirit, you can be frustrated. However, with a dynamic and effective prayer lifestyle, you can never be disadvantaged, glory to God!

Go Deeper

Luke 18:1; Philippians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 14:15

Pray

Dear Father, I thank you for the opportunity to fellowship with you in prayer. I make progress continually, because I’m led and guided always by your Spirit who unveils the realities of the Kingdom to my spirit, as I spend time with Him in fellowship, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

Romans 8:1-17, Psalms 68-69

TWO YEAR

Luke 13:1-9, Judges 10

Act

Dedicate an hour every day of this week to pray in tongues, and watch the Holy Spirit take over with groanings and deep sighs, interceding for you.

TO THE BIBLE: James 5:17-18 TLB

“Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured, and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.”

LET’S TALK

When the children of Israel descended into idolatry, Elijah wanted to teach them a lesson and get them back to God. So he prayed for the rain to stop, and it didn’t rain in Israel for three-and-a-half years. When the people repented, Elijah prayed again for rain to fall, and the Lord said to him, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 18:1 RSV). Elijah knew God had answered his prayer, but he didn’t just sit there twiddling his thumb and waiting for the rain to fall. He went back on his knees and continued in fervent prayer (1 Kings 18:41-45).

There may have been times the Spirit of God let you know He already answered your prayer, and so, in excitement, you made it public. But when things didn’t turn out the way you expected, you asked, “What did I do wrong?” Well, it wasn’t so much what you did wrong, but what you stopped doing— you left off praying!

Your prayer is required to remove every obstacle and bring God’s Word to pass in your life! There are things you may not know to do until you spend time in prayer; then, God can reveal to you the steps you need to take. Christianity is a life of faith alright, but fervent prayer has its place. Don’t be perturbed by the things that appear unfavourable at the moment. Continue to pray in faith until you see the desired result. Press on in prayer!

Go Deeper

Proverbs 15:29; James 5:16

Pray

Father, I thank you for the privilege of coming to your throne with boldness in the Name of your Son, Jesus. I rejoice for you hear, delight in, and answer my prayer as it wafts before you as incense, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

Acts 1:1-26, 2 Chronicles 1-4

TWO YEAR

Mark 16:1-11, Deuteronomy 7

Act

Take out time to fast, study the Word and pray today.

TO THE BIBLE: 1 John 5:4

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

LET’S TALK

When you study Jesus and the way He responded to different circumstances, you’ll discover He was always in charge. His language was that of faith and absolute mastery. He was always in control, unperturbed by anything. His words were faith-filled, and He displayed an attitude of rest in the midst of turmoil. This is the life He’s given us; a life of absolute mastery, where you cease from all worries and express your faith unperturbed.

Even when He was told His friend Lazarus had been dead and buried four days, Jesus remained unruffled. Instead, with all calmness and assurance, He told Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters: “…I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25). Nothing could shake Him; He was the picture of supreme confidence! He stood at the entrance of the sepulchre, uttered a simple prayer of thanks to the Father, and called out: “Lazarus, come out!” The man that had been dead for four days came hopping out of the grave alive! (John 11:41-44).

That was faith functioning from a place of rest and absolute mastery. Faith recognises no fear, because it trusts in the ability of God. When you’re faced with challenges, don’t cower or become frightful or fretful. Be in charge, irrespective of what happens around you. If you receive negative news from afar, maintain your composure and declare God’s Word. Take charge. Refuse to worry; just give the Word and effect a change. Hallelujah!

Go Deeper

Hebrews 11:1

Pray

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the power of your Word which causes me to function from a place of rest and mastery over all situations. I live victoriously over all distracting elements of this world in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

ONE YEAR

John 15:18-16:1-16, 1 Chronicles 5-6

TWO YEAR

Mark 14:22-31, Numbers 34

Act

What are those negative circumstances facing you today? Speak God’s Word to them, and watch them conform to what you say.