PRAYING TO RECEIVE
TEXT: PSALM 5:1-7.
🔑KEY VERSE “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray” (PSALM 5:1,2).
Dr George Washington Carver once wrote on the subject of the potency of prayer, “My prayer seems to be more of attitude than anything else. I indulge in no lip service, but ask the great God silently, daily and often many times a day, to permit me to speak to Him. I ask Him to give me wisdom, understanding and bodily strength to do His will. Hence I am asking and receiving all the time.” The secret of a close relationship with God is prayer. Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God.
The psalmist considered not only the potency of prayer but also expanded the necessary ingredients that could make prayer effectual. Prayer offered to God in holiness and righteousness brings speedy answer. Dr. William Sadler said, “prayer is a safety valve of the mind and of the soul; if Christianity were practically applied to our everyday life, it will so purify and vitalise the race that at least one half of our sickness and sorrow would disappear.”
As much as God delights in our calling on Him, He also wants us to live to please Him. Hence, as we grow spiritually, our sensitivity to His requirement of holiness should increase.
Prayer is never a monologue; it is a dialogue. As we talk to God, we must also listen to Him. We should have the same attitude to prayer as David. He said, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly” (Psalm 85:8).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Purity is the power of prayer.
BIBLE INNA YEAR: 2 SAMUEL 17-18.
MEDITATION
Some revelations on prayers
- Some levels of prayers vv1-3.
a. Meditations or desires v1. Proverbs 10:24b and Isaiah 65:24 show that God do grant some meditations/desires without asking. So, mind your meditations and thoughts.
Q Can you think of a case in the Bible where mere desire was granted without prayers?
b. Worded and vocalised prayers v1.
The prayers are worded but none is hearing except the petitioner. An example was Hannah, I Samuel 1:13. Some desires will not be granted until you ask Matthew 7:7.
c. Voiced and audible prayers v3.
This requires voicing out your requests to God in such a way that others may hear, Jeremiah 33:3.
d. Crying to God v2.
This involves seeking and knocking the gates of heaven with passion and strong intensity.
Q Apart from Jesus at Gethsemane, which other example do you have in the Bible?
e. Prayer of confession of faith/praise vv4,6, Romans 4:20.
Q Give an example where Judah resorted to praise when it appeared they did not know what to do again, and eventually praise brought the victory.
Note Different needs require different levels of prayers. If one does not produce result try the other level. God has promised to answer our prayers of faith. Prayer can do whatever God can do. - Prayer quenchers
vv4-7 list some actions and attitudes that make prayers of no effect. What are they?
Thank and praise God for the privilege of prayer and answers to previous prayers
Ask God to give you more Spirit of prayer that will move you to another level of prayer life
Take authority and bind the spirit of coldness and prayerlessness in your life
Command the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn all prayer quenchers in your church
HYMN Did you think to pray
