THEME: Pray Ye the Lord of The Harvest; The Believers’ Life of Prayer
LESSON: Two
TOPIC: The Prayer Life of a Christian Sojourner
TEXT: 1st Thessalonians 5:17; 1st Timothy 2:8; Luke 18:1-8; Matthew 9:48
INTRODUCTION:
By God’s grace, in our last lesson, we saw that Satan invests a lot to weaken the resolve of God’s people in giving themselves to prayer and watching (i.e. giving attention to the Word as it progresses towards the soul being saved). He does these through pleasures and time guzzlers he puts around the people of God. Also, we saw that, though, the Word of Righteousness communities across the earth are a praying community which have laboured and thrived in the place of prayers and praying. We are being called to a greater place of prayers and praying by the Lord Jesus Christ through this burden that He has put in His Servant’s heart.
Rehashing the Burden of this Series
Amongst the burdens in the heart of Our Daddy, Pastor Emeka Egwuchukwu and Pastor ‘Laide Olaniyan, is that we will become better in our individual/private prayer lives here in the New and Living Way Church, Ikorodu. Yes, we cannot deny it that the Graces and capacities to pray as individuals and corporately as a Church are very obvious upon us in many ramifications, for the which we shout glory! Hallelujah! But the truth is there is a lot to come into, obey into and align with, regarding prayers and praying. Hence, the need for this series. Particularly our individual/private prayer lives or commitments to prayers (which in turn would have a direct impact on our collective prayer fire and impact).
Some notions that we will need to adjust on and make amends concerning prayers and praying:
- More light/revelation/understanding does not imply less prayers. Growth in the things of God does not and should not reduce our commitment to prayers and praying.
- As we journey in our souls through revelation/understanding/mysteries. So, also according to the scriptures, are we meant to journey in our prayer capabilities/powers and expressions towards God (Luke 1:8-10; 1st Kings 8:22-54; Romans 8:34). The same mindset that we have with regards to growing in knowledge, is what we are equally supposed to have towards prayers. WE OUGHT TO GROW IN OUR PRAYER LIVES (through the tabernacle)!
- The House of God (which symbolizes the heavenly places that our souls are to journey through and actively participate in in Christ) is called the House of Prayers (Matthew 11:17). In this view, every season that any believer finds themselves can ought to be called the seasons of prayers. There is no special praying season for a Christian, all seasons are seasons of praying (Luke 18:1-8; 1Thess 5:17).
Some other mindsets that hinder the prosperity of our individual and collective prayer lives:
- Praying for and with the wrong reasons: Just praying for to appease our conscience of the guilt of not praying. This in itself is as a result of not having sufficient understanding of ‘the whys’ of praying.
- Not seeing the bigger picture for praying: The bigger picture for to pray and endlessly stay in prayers the right way are the hopes/promises/natures that we are called to attain unto (Ephesians 1:15-21). All the prayers in the Epistles of Paul where he kept saying that he prays without ceasing for the Churches are prayers to conform to Jesus Christ at varying levels of natures (Colossians 1:4-10; 1st Thessalonians 5:17)
Making Lifestyle adjustments/changes for an effective prayer/praying life
For a believer to pray without ceasing or pray always as the scriptures both admonishes and command, we ought to deliberately make lifestyle changes and adjustments that would both allow and accommodate “a new habit/a praying routine!” Naturally, many people are advised to make lifestyle changes to deal with certain health conditions for the sake of being healthy and living long. Which when adhered to, shows in their flesh prospering and them living long. Many have died for not making such lifestyle adjustments as recommended by their medical doctors. So, also, it is with any spiritual exercise, there must be lifestyle adjustments (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Luke 22:39).
To want to pray like Ephaphras while you have the lifestyle of the rich young ruler may not be realistic. It is good to say that there might not be “a perfect time that will perfectly work for everyone to pray” But there is a good time, based on your specific lifestyle, that will be convenient for you to pray.
This is being said so that individually and collectively, we will look into how to audit our lifestyles and realistically work out a prayer template that will work; one free from condemnation and guilt! Hallelujah.
At individual levels, at family levels this audit ought to be done, and lifestyle adjustments/changes made accordingly.
When and where is it best to pray?
- When and where you are least vulnerable to external and internal distractions. While some may want to say early in the morning, or late at night, that may not be exactly true for everyone. Some people by reason of their job, environment or family setting, are more busy early in the mornings or late at nights. So, the answer to when and where to pray is “when and where you are least vulnerable to external and internal distractions” (Luke 6:12 – for Our Lord Jesus, His obviously was early in the morning, or late at night)
- Follow the leadings of The Spirit of God to you.
Some things that can help build a strong and thriving prayer life:
- Be realistic with the goals you set in prayers. If you have not been used to praying before, it won’t be realistic to all of a sudden want to set two hours per day standard of praying for yourself, be realistic and start small, then increase!
- Like “a newbie” at the gym, you will struggle at the beginning but keep at it even when you don’t always meet your target in both time of prayers and burdens you desired to cover
- Give attention to the words being taught, the spirits of prayers are somewhere in the words you are hearing. The more the words enter you, the more prayer burden you will have to offer as incense
- Desire to grow in prayers and praying
- Have a prayer partner when and if necessary (Proverbs 27:17; Matthew 18:19-20)
CONCLUSION
This lifestyle of prayers and praying would better position us both individually and as a Church to continually stay in the place of prayers for THE WILL OF GOD FOR THE LAST DAYS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE ENSUING HARVEST. Let us pray!