Until your Joy is Full

Monday 18 September
READ: Lk. 11:1-8  
MORE LESSON:  I Kgs. 18:42-46; Hab.2:1-3

Another matter to consider is the issue of never giving up in the place of prayer. Often, it may look like answer is not forthcoming and you are tempted to seek alternatives or give up hope entirely. We all pass through such experiences but never give up because there is no alternative to calling on God. Jesus, aware that such will always happen, gave the illustration in today's reading to teach us the need to be importunate in prayer.And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee: Lk. 11:7.

If by persistent asking the man got as much as he needed from his unwilling friend, how much more shall we obtain from our heavenly Father who has promised and is alive to keep His Word.

Daniel waited for 21 days;
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia: Dan. 10:13. Elijah sent his servant seven times before a small cloud showed up, And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not: I Kgs. 18:44.

Paul was on the high sea for fourteen days before an angel came to encourage him;
And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away: Acts 27:20. None of these men stopped asking until their joy was full.

God’s store house is inexhaustible! You cannot finish it! That's why Jesus said, keep asking and asking and asking until you are satisfied, until your joy overflows its bank. However, we must ask in faith and according to His will.

The evidence of our faith is the patience we exercise until answers come, ...he that believeth shall not make haste: Isa 28 :16. Never give up praying until your joy is full. Remember, delay is not denial!

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord for the fullness of your joy.
* Pray that Heaven will rise up to intervene for you until your joy is full.
* Ask God for strength to PUSH (pray until something happens).

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
This week I will advance, take charge and reign on every side, in the name of Jesus.

Ask, Seek, Knock

Sunday 17 September
READ: Matt.7:7-13   
MORE LESSON:  I Jn. 5:15-17

As we get close to rounding off this series on prayer, it's important to touch on a few vital matters, which are central to the issue of prayer. In one of His earliest teachings on prayer, Jesus teaches that prayer is about asking, seeking and knocking. The Lord also gives very strong and definite promises that for asking we shall receive, seeking we shall find and knocking it shall be opened to us (Matt. 7:7-8). This should inspire strong faith that whatever we ask in prayer shall be given. Jesus goes on to promise that everyone who asks receives - young or old, male or female, etc. Note that …he that seeketh findeth; whatever it is - spiritual, physical, academic, etc. Prayer provides the power to open and have access to all doors shut by the enemy, spirit or human. Also, …and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

However, you must seek the Lord with all your heart and ask according to His will; And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart: Jer. 29:13. Casual seekers don't find God. The seeking  must be determined and wholehearted, and the promise of God is sure; And I will be found of you...: Jer. 29:14. So don't stop asking, seeking and knocking because very soon, you will receive, find and the doors shall be opened to you, in Jesus' name. Today, you will receive answer; God will open the door when you knock and answer the calls you make, in Jesus' name.

It is important to note here that by this scriptures, assumption is not prayer. Many people assume that God should know their problem and just solve it because He is the Almighty God. God works by principles; His instruction is that you must ask. Until you do, you are not ready for solution. Blind Bartimaeus stood before Jesus, and though Jesus saw that he was blind, he still asked him, ...What wilt thou that I should do unto thee...: Mk. 10:51.

Most important of all is that anyone who comes to God must come in faith, believing for without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). The same faith that can heal headache is the same that heals cancer, HIV, TB, etc. It is all about asking our loving Father with whom nothing shall be impossible and asking in faith.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for the power of the Holy Ghost to pray right.
* Pray that Heaven will reckon with your voice when you ask and open doors to you when you knock.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you on how to pray effective prayers and not just noise.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, cut the supply and provision of every agent of the enemy to my life that they may lack the resources to work against my destiny, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Pray without Ceasing

Saturday 16 September
READ: Lk. 21:32-38  
MORE LESSON:  Rom. 12:12; Acts 6:4

In today's Scripture reading Jesus did not call us only to pray, but to pray without ceasing. This may not mean to sit or kneel in a place of praying all day, but to develop an attitude of prayer as a normal way of life. Prayer should become like the air we breathe; when we stop praying we die, spiritually. Note that the attitude of prayer is also learnt like all other attitudes. No man was born a prayer warrior, but is made through rugged determination, regular and uninterrupted communion with God. We cultivate the act with passion until prayer becomes an attitude.

We can pray anywhere and at anytime, lifting our hearts in silent petition even while at work. We can pray in the Holy Ghost quietly and we must also create a specific time of prayer in definite places. To pray without ceasing is to pray when we feel like and when we don't feel like praying, until we begin to feel like praying when we are not praying. It is, ...continuing instant in prayer: Rom. 12:12. It is not considering anything too small or too difficult to pray about.

Ceaseless prayer is about being in tune with Heaven so much so that Heaven
can reach us without any difficulty anytime, anywhere. It is about living on earth but your heart is permanently in Heaven. Ceaseless prayer will make Heaven sit in your heart and your heart sit in Heaven. It is a lifestyle every believer must strive to attain because it is the desire of God for all His children.

Jesus did not only pray, He was constantly in prayer Himself. He prayed before, during and after meetings. He prayed day and night. He prayed in joy and pain. At Gethsemane, in great sorrow, He prayed. At Lazarus tomb, He prayed even on the cross He prayed and even interceded for men. He prayed so much that His

disciples came to ask Him to teach them to pray:
And it came to pass, that, as he was  praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John  also taught his disciples: Lk. 11:1.
If being God He prayed and prayed ceaselessly, we too must not do less than pray and pray ceaselessly.

Prayer/Action
*  Ask God to ignite your heart with the fire of prayer until your life becomes a prayer sanctuary.
*  Pray that you will not faint in the place of prayer.
* Lord God, help me to attain a life style of prayer, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I decree the snare is broken, the chain is off, and it's a new day of escape and joy for my soul, in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah!

Access to the Throne of God

Friday 15 September
READ: Psa. 23:1-6      
MORE LESSON:  John 14:19-21

Prayer is talking with God. If a man must not pray in vain, the first thing is to secure access to the throne where the God who answers prayer sits. Jesus' first lesson on prayer is instructive, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name...:  Lk. 11:2. The key to gaining access to the Father is relationship. Without this key factor one is locked out of God's presence and help, regardless of what a person does, including giving money, property, time and labour for God. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God...: Jn. 1:12.

The strongest relationship is that of redemption, and this is why the prayer of a sinner is an abomination to God. Many people reject Jesus as the Son of God but cry to Him as a  prophet. While others wallow in sin, they recite all the psalms in prayer; this is an exercise in futility. Even Jesus had access to God first as a Son. No man will enjoy prayer without this personal relationship of redemption. But if you acknowledge your sins, repent and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you will have access to God and answers to prayer.

When prayer comes out of a relationship between the Father and His son, it is obviously different from any other type of request. At that point it's the Father's responsibility to provide and the right of the son to receive provision. When requests are made on such a platform, failure is limited and the possibilities are unlimited. Start a relationship with Jesus today by inviting Him into your life as the Lord and Saviour and see the door open to your requests.

The sheep in our reading today enjoys all the following benefits just because he has a relationship with the shepherd.
1. Never wants; v1
2. Green pastures and still waters; v2
3. Restoration and divine guidance; v3
4.Divine presence and safety; v4
5. A prepared table and an overflowing cup regardless of enemy activities; v5
6. A permanent assured goodness, mercy and more.

All these happen because of the relationship!
When you choose to be a sheep in Jesus' sheepfold, all of these and more in eternity await you. However, to be or not to be a sheep is a personal choice.

Prayer/Action
* Receive grace for access to God's throne always, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to grant you grace to have a consistent relationship with Him.
* Pray that you will find favour with God and men.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every negative turn must turn again this month; they must turn positive, glorious and become a miracle and a celebration, in the name of Jesus.