MAKE PRAYER INTENTIONAL
SCRIPTURE: COLOSSIANS 4:2 (NKJV)
”Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
One man of God once said, “breathing is to the human being as prayer is to the believer.“ Prayer is certainly one subject we can’t stop talking about. Few subjects in the scriptures get the kind of attention prayer gets. Why? Because it is the means by which Believers communicate with our Father. Also , it is because it is the means by which lives, families, leaders especially and nations are changed, shaped and impacted by God for good and for his glory.
The life of Jabez was radically changed for the better by his prayers in I Chronicles 4, verses 9 to 10. The prayers and fasting of Esther, Mordecai and their fellow Jews provoked supernatural deliverance for them so that they were not wiped off the face of the earth through Haman’s plot. In the book of Acts chapter 12, the constant prayers of the church delivered Apostle Peter from prison the night before he would have been killed. The prayers of the saints can make a real difference.
Our Lord Jesus was a man of prayer. He actually stated clearly in Luke 19, verse 46 that ”my house is the house of prayer …” This is who we are and this is our ministry, both as individual disciples and as a church. We must be known by our prayer lifestyle and ministry. We must intentionally devote ourselves to prayer with a view to seeing individuals, families and nations changed by God for good.
We must be intentional about prayer. It must be a conscious choice. Good and great things happen because we pray. Knowing that prayer especially releases the supernatural, the ideal thing for every believer to do is:
1. Make prayer a priority and daily affair.
- Have a time specifically set aside for prayer.
- Have a specific place or places to pray.
Our verse for today teaches us to continue in prayer. This means we must develop the practice of prayer and keep improving the habit. In spite of this instruction, not all disciples of Christ are having it smooth with their prayer life. Why? Because their prayer life is not intentional. It’s not based on a mature understanding of prayer. It is not planned for and it is not a conscious choice. Very often, many only pray when in crisis. Others pray when they feel like it. Few, therefore, pray as a habit. All this is because different people are on different levels of maturity concerning prayer.
I was once asked “how do I develop a stronger prayer life?” I told the person; “join the company of those who pray better.“ By so doing, one can experience 3 benefits, at least. You will learn the practicals of prayer from the stronger believers in the group you join. Secondly, praying in a group will strengthen your personal prayer life. Finally, you would have developed the habit and be able to fulfill today’s scripture which is, “to continue in prayer…”
Let’s make prayer intentional.
PRAYER
I thank you, Father, for the privilege and opportunity of prayer. It is so refreshing to know that we are guaranteed answers when we pray because you are faithful to hear us. Thank you for the opportunity to change things through prayer. By your Spirit, help me to be more intentional about prayer and to mature in this art, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
FURTHER READING (NKJV)
MATTHEW 14:21-27
[21]Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
[22]Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
[23]And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
[24]But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
[25]Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
[26]And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
[27]But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”