Saturday Motivation: Pray Without Ceasing
30th May 2020
Saturday Motivation
Pray Without Ceasing!
Text:
1 Peter 5 v 7: Cast your burdens upon the Lord for He cares for you.
Proverbs 15 v 29; The Lord is far from the wicked but He hears the prayers of the righteous
What is prayer?
Prayer is similar to talking to someone on a personal basis. It`s like taking to your best friend and sharing personal secrets with him or her.
Prayer is a two-way conversation based on listening to God and conversing with Him through His Word.
Prayer is a medium of communication between man and God. Prayer is our direct line to heaven. It is talking to God and pouring our hearts out to Him.
Prayer is the way we share all our worries, anxieties, fears and concerns with God without holding anything back. Prayer is asking God for things that we cannot do for ourselves and asking for His help in things that we are helpless to perform. Prayer is talking to God through Jesus Christ.
Prayer changes us but it does not change God. Prayer can however change our circumstances and this is the reason why we need to pray. God is sovereign and His command is that we should pray without ceasing.
God wants us to talk to him in faith and ask Him for anything we need and when we pray to God, we must believe that God will hear and answer our prayers.
Prayer should be a way of life for all believers because when we pray, God works. Through prayer, we can receive power from God to do the impossible and achieve the unachievable.
Prayer should not be for emergency purposes only because when we pray continuously, we receive divine direction and provision from God.
Prayer should be on a daily basis as it a means of claiming the promises of God and working in His will.
Prayer is our way of telling God that we are dependent on Him. It is our means of entering into God`s joy, love, provision, direction and presence.
Prayer is more than mere religious routine but should be from a heart that desires God and depends on Him like all living things depend on oxygen to breathe.
Prayer is a longing for intimacy with God to enter into His Will and divine purpose.
Prayer is a means by which we draw close to God so that He can draw close to us and bless us.
Prayer keeps us secure in God`s love so that we are not left alone to handle difficult circumstances all by ourselves.
There are two types of prayers;1. Petitions: Prayers for our own needs; Colossians 4 v 2-4,3 John v 22. Intercessions: Prayers for the needs of others; Ephesians 6 v 18
The bible encourages us to pray for our needs, our joys, our sorrows, our cares, our fears as well as the need of others.
We need to be sensitive to the needs of others by standing in the gap for them.
We should not be occupied with prayer for ourselves alone because intercessory prayers is a test of our love and fellowship with God as well as our friendship with others.
Why should we pray?
1. The Bible admonishes us to pray; Jeremiah 33 v3 says; Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.
2. Jesus Prayed: Luke 5 v 16; He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
How should we pray?
1. We must pray without ceasing; 1st Thessalonians 5 v17
2. We must pray persistently: Luke 11 v 9
3. We must pray with faith; Hebrews 11 v 6
4. We must pray with Worship and reverence to God; Psalm 99 v 5
5. We must pray with purpose; Luke 11 v 10
6. We must pray from our heart; Isaiah 29v 13
7. We must pray to God and not idols; Psalm 103 v 13
8. We must pray the model prayer from the bible; Matthew 6 v 9-13
Who should we pray for?
There is no limit to who or what we can pray for.
1. We can pray to reverence God`s Name.
2. We can pray for God`s reign on earth.
3. We can pray for our needs and the needs of others.
4. We can pray for all the nations of the world.
5. We can pray for our country.
6. We can pray for our state
Let`s look at some scriptures on Prayers;
1. 1 Thessalonians 5 v 17: Pray without ceasing
2. Mark 11 v 24: Whatever you ask in prayers, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.
3. Psalm 88 v 13: But I, oh Lord, cry to you; in the morning, my prayer comes before you
4. Philippians 4 v 6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5 v 25: Brethren Pray for us
6. Psalm 145 v 18: The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
7. James 5 v 16b: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
8. 3 John v 2: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers.
9. Ephesians 6 v 18a; Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit
10. Colossians 4 v 2: Continue earnestly in prayer being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.
11. Jeremiah 33 v 3: Call unto me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.
12. Proverbs 15 v 29: The Lord is far from the wicked but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Factors that hinders Prayers
Sometimes we may feel like God does not answer our prayers because He does not care about us but this is not true. We must take God for His word and believe that when He says He will do something, He always does it. When we pray, we must have faith and believe that God will hear and answer our prayers.
Below are some of the factors that hinder prayers;
1. When we do not pray with the right motive; James 4 v 3: You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss so that you may spend it on your pleasures. Selfish motives will not be blessed by God. We must ask in accordance with God`s will, His character and His nature. We must ask for things that are for our spiritual benefits as well as for the spiritual benefit of our loved ones.
2. The Prayer of someone living in sin: Psalm 66 v 18; If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
3. Turning away from biblical principles: Proverbs 28 v 9; If we do not spend time in God` word and obey Him, He will not answer when we call. Prayers from a heart that is unyielding to God and His ways are an abomination to God.
4. The prayer of a person that doubts will not be answered: James 1v 6-8; But when you ask you must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from God. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. This means that total belief in the Lord is a requirement for answered prayers. When we doubt God` word, it means we are calling Him a liar. God`s word will never fail, never change and never disappoint.
5. If you cannot forgive, if you hold a grudge or you are angry with someone, it can hinder prayers from being answered.
May God give us the grace to pray without ceasing and to avoid pitfalls that may hinder our prayers!
Amen!
Shalom!