“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” ( James 5:16)
The prayer life of Jesus teaches us a lot about what is the most important key in our lives for a victorious life. We notice, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Of course since Jesus had taken up the human body there must have been times when all seemed like a chore. But then he knew the most important gateway to any day had to start by talking to his father in heaven.
In another instance we also notice that while Jesus aware of the road of tribulations ahead, couldn’t help but go out to pray, it did not come so easily to his disciples. “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” ( Mathew 26: 40-41). In fact, after leaving and getting back, “he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing” ( vv 43-44).
Now, these disciples were men who had walked with Jesus and knew a thing or so about the power of prayer. But here they were struggling. “Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? ..” (vv 45).
Like them, we too can struggle in our prayer life. Maybe on some days there is no need for prompting, but there could also be those slow days. Prayer takes effort and will. Jesus had all that; and we could do well to model our lives on his prayer life!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, victory starts with prayer and where sometimes the body is weak, may your spirit sustain me in prayer, to lead a victorious life in you, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
