Pray, Pray and Pray

Pray, Pray and Pray

The highest form of pride and arrogance is not to pray to the almighty God, maker of heaven and earth. Pride goes before fall so when you stop praying or rarely pray, watch out for a big fall. Pride equals prayer-less-ness. When I am not praying, I am declaring myself a mini god because I want to be in control and take care of all situations and their outcomes. Prayer is worship and we are worshippers.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6: 10-18.

We are to wear the whole armor of God and always pray without ceasing. Prayer implements the armor.
Without wearing the armor, praying is ineffective and useless. You need truth, God Himself; you need the righteousness of God in Christ; you need to be grounded in the gospel of peace. You also need faith to believe and trust God. You need to know that you are saved and that with great hope nothing will separate you from God’s love. Finally you need the sword of the spirit, the word of God to pray God' will. Only prayers offered according to God's will are heard and answered by God. God is obligated to do his will. Whatever you ask according to God's will, He hears. (1 John 5:14)

Most people will say they don't have pride which God hates. But are they praying? When I am judging and thinking I am better than another, it means I am not praying for them. I saw that in my heart this week, and I asked God to forgive me. I forgot that the life I have and now live is by grace alone. May we never forget His grace on us and pray the same for others. Lord, save me from pride and from not praying for others.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray”. Can we weep for others and the people of our land for repentance and a turning to God? Often our tears are for our sufferings and pain (which is okay) but we must get to weeping for those who have caused us pain and anguish. Samuel said God forbid that I should cease to pray for you after the Israelites had messed up and angered God and Samuel.

Prayer is not to be preached. You just pray. That is what Jesus did with his disciples. He lived prayer. Many times He withdrew to pray. He prayed with them in public thanking God the father. He showed them how to pray, teaching them what we now call “Our Lord’s prayer”.

There are all kinds of prayers. If you can open your mouth, you can pray. Some of us are very talkative (talking to people) but rarely or never talk to God. It does not matter who else you talk to. What matters is that you talk to God while listening to Him too. It is a two-way traffic.
Some prayers lack words such as Hannah’s. She was barren and was mocked by her other husband’s wife. “10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore… 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken” (1 Samuel 1:10-13). Pray even if people think you are drunk and stupid.

So, let's just pray instead of talk: Our Father, we love you and adore you. What a privilege to come to you in prayer. What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer!

Lord, we declare that you are our God and Father. There is no one else like you we can run to. We surrender our lives to you and say, let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Father, deliver us from the evil one and lead us not into temptation to yield to his dirty tricks and lies. Fill us again with your love and Holy Spirit.

Father we pray for our families and our loved ones. We pray that all will have a true knowledge of you and a relationship with you. We pray that we will not only know our families just here on earth that you will grant them your grace and mercy to be your children here and forever.

Father we thank you for our neighbors, friends, school mates and co-workers. We pray that you would fill them with your fullness of your Holy Spirit to know you. Father may all we encounter in this life be extended the mercy and grace and faith to believe in you. Lord, do more than we can think or ask in the lives of these people. Help us to be instruments to introduce them to your Son, the Savior.

Father, grant us the desire and longing for only you. Let nothing else satisfy us except you and not even your blessings but you. Give us a longing and burning for your word and desire to will and do your word. Jesus, please live your resurrected life in us and through us. In our weaknesses, please make yourself strong in us and may your grace always be sufficient for us. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.

Please don’t tell people you will pray for them. Just pray right away because most times, we forget. Yes, you can continue to pray for them later. So now, please pray for me, for others and for yourself. Will you? Thank you.

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