Keep on PRAYING

By Kemi O.

 

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-11 NLT

 

"Pray without ceasing"  1 Thess. 5:17  ESV

 

  Prayer should be a way of life for every true believer; a life of daily communication with God.  When you are in a relationship with someone take for example, your spouse; a day cannot go by without a single conversation even when you are having a difference of opinion (in disagreement), it is almost impossible not to talk with your spouse.  So imagine going a whole day without prayer (conversation between you and the Lord God).   The bible has showed us in this short verse of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where Apostle Paul commands us to pray without ceasing meaning that we must pray regularly, be in a continual attitude of prayer.  Needless to say, no matter where we are, what we are doing, what mood we are in, whatever we may be facing at that particular moment in our lives, be it good or not so good, we must never cease from praying ( acknowledging God in our lives) .. We as believers must develop an attitude of prayer, being conscious of God’s presence in our lives daily.   Praying regularly, as in the Lord’s Prayer “Give us this day our daily bread “Matthew 6:11 is another illustration of the Lord Jesus admonishing us how often to pray.     As believers, we must also remember to not just pray for ourselves, but also to intercede on behalf of others. Luke 22:41-42, James 5:16.

Matthew 7:7-8 sums up God’s desire for us to pray regularly and effectively.  The Lord Jesus in His own words admonishes us to never cease from praying (communicating to God) our needs and the needs of others.  He assures us that If we keep asking, seeking and knocking, we shall surely receive our requests, however I believe that our prayers shall be answered according to his will for us and scripture also confirms that in 1 John 5:14 where it states “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

Beloved, God wants us to develop a lifestyle of prayer in these evil times in order to feel His presence constantly in our lives and to be confident that prayer can and will destroy the activities of  principalities and powers in our lives.  There is a saying that goes “A prayer less Christian is a powerless Christian” which is so true. One of the greatest ammunitions or weapons we have to fight the enemy is “PRAYER” and satan knows this that’s why one of the first areas, if not the very first area he attack is our prayer life.   We must always be vigilant and sensitive to the presence of God in our lives.  See Ephesians 6:10-18.  I have to admit there are times, I just do not feel like praying at all, but then when that happens, I immediately perceive in my spirit that I am under spiritual attack and then at that time, I have to ask for the Holy Spirit to strengthen me and He does by giving me the power to pray effectively.  A lot of times, when we lack the desire to pray, a breakthrough is coming and the enemy is trying to prevent us from receiving that blessing by weakening our prayer life.  Beloved, Prayer is the master key to fight the powers of darkness and be victorious.

Prayer is a very essential part of the believer’s life; we cannot survive in this world without it. We must yearn for communication with the Lord daily and not just at a particular time of the day, but throughout our day, from the moment we wake up in the morning until the moment we go to bed at night because He is with us at all times and want to hear from us just as He wants to also speak with us in whatever form He chooses.  I am not saying you should go into a mode of nonstop talking, not at all, praying without ceasing simply means having an effective prayer life, developing a lifestyle of prayer where you are sensitive and conscious of the presence of God in your life and knowing that He is with you at all times.     Friends, I encourage you today to develop a lifestyle of prayer, do not let circumstances or the cares of this world hinder your prayer life, be effective in your prayer and I assure you the Lord will hear and answer you accordingly.

SHALOM!