“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary” – (Daniel 9:17).
Many of us are familiar with petitions. There are petitions that have been made to the powers that be for new District creation. Sometimes petitions have been for removal from office certain characters.
Three common aspects are found in almost all petitions. First, there is often urgency about them. And then petitions to add weight bear signatures of those bidding for a favor. Finally petitions are always appealing to a higher power.
Believers in Christ are privileged that they have the highest power to appeal to. Daniel was once grieved with what had happened to Jerusalem and he petitioned to the Almighty. “So I turned to God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). He then laid out a passionate prayer on behalf of the people. “Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name” (Daniel 9:19).
Queen Esther after first petitioning God with much prayer and fasting walked in confidence to her King on behalf of her people. “Now, what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted” (Esther 5:6). Her petition to King Xerxes yielded success.
Writing to Timothy the Apostle Paul reminded him, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of men” (I Timothy 2:1). Faced with defeat the people pleaded with prophet Jeremiah, “Please, hear our petition and pray to the Lord our God for his entire remnant. For as you now see though we were once many, only a few are left. Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do” (Jeremiah 42:2-3).
Just as the people of the world habitually take petitions to authorities, and are never shy about them by appending their signatures, let us too never hesitate to do the same to the Almighty. We should petition to God whenever we are faced with an impending situation that threatens us and not let the enemy have his way. Like Daniel and Esther we should plead passionately that the tide turns in our favor. Whatever it is we should go to God assured most of all that He will answer our requests. “And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (I John 5:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I come to you with a petition deep from my heart, that you use your power that put in place the sun, moon and stars, to change my situation and destiny in my favour, for you are a God of the possible and wills what you want to pass, all I pray in the mighty name of Jesus!
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
