WHAT THE BELIEVERS HAVE IN COMMON - PART 5

FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 2022

Today's article is majored on prayer, the final part of our discussions based on this topic. An active prayer life is superior to all the powers of the enemy put together. It resists the devil, and it can establish your desires and requests, no matter the level of concerns. Let's find out what prayer can do in our individual lives!

Reference: Acts 2:42 New Living Translation (NLT) "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer."

The early believers devoted themselves to prayer too and it yielded tremendous results for them. Therefore we must give ourselves to prayer because Jesus emphasized the need for continual prayer when He told His disciples a parable to make the point that at all times, they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart (Luke 18:1 AMP). Prayer is the expressive nature of our relationship with Divinity. Simply put, we express ourselves to God through prayer, and God instructs us too, as we communicate with Him.

Even in this mortal body, we are surrounded by so many things that can hinder the Christian race and we're exposed to trials and troubles in the world, including the sin that so easily entangles. However, the easy way out, forward, above and beyond is by maintaining or sustaining a consistent prayer life. When you feel a sense of infirmity or anxiety, you can best handle it in prayer, suggesting that among other duties of our Christian faith, prayer is a high-impact spiritual support. It can also be your encouragement at any given time because the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will surely encourage your heart and guard your mind in Christ Jesus when you pray (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Effective prayer denotes that which supports and refreshes the soul; it sustains a man when he is sinking from spiritual exhaustion. For instance, when Jesus said in Luke 21:19 (NKJV), by your patience possess your souls, He was making reference to our prayer life. You can't possess your soul by functioning as a prayerless Christian. The NLT reads, "By standing firm, you will win your souls", and prayer empowers us to stand firm.

Let me quickly instruct your veins about this proven mystery called prayer. It was a decision formed in the councils of eternity, and before or since the foundation of the earth was laid, it has been an eternal plan in the Divine mind. Through prayer, God can bestow permanent and solid peace and prosperity on his people, because it lays the foundation of the assurance of both temporary and eternal results. Make no mistakes about it, prayer of thanksgiving is designed to continue forever or in heaven.

When we are busily employed in strategic prayer, God can make us judges and watchmen in our various world, in order to establish His perfect will on earth. For instance, Isaiah 62:6-7 reads, "On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed and stationed watchmen (prophets), Who will never keep silent day or night; You who profess the Lord, take no rest for yourselves, And give Him no rest [from your prayers] until He establishes Jerusalem And makes her a praise on the earth" (AMP).

Finally, our prayer life is a place where Christ is manifestly distinguished and acknowledged because we can only pray or ask or receive in His name alone. The Bible says, "Whatever you ask for in My name, I will do it so that the Father will get glory from the Son. Let Me say it again: if you ask for anything in My name, I will do it"... John 14:13-14 (The Voice). Beloved, that's the voice of the Master and He assures us twice that as we mention His name while or after praying, He'll definitely action our requests. And significantly, no matter the number of people praying simultaneously and persistently in this world, there is no such thing as mounting pressure on His name because He is the Lord of all. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Matthew 6:6; Romans 12:12; 1 Corinthians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I'm filled with adoring influences of my prayer life which are supported by the Holy Spirit. Your purpose is to satisfy my spiritual longings and lead me along the great array of triumphal procession through my prayer life. Therefore, as I pray, my desires and expectations are continually made manifest in my life, in Jesus' Name, Amen!