Text: Matthew 6:5-8
Memory verse:
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬

Prayer can either be short or long. Whether short or long, your attitude and fervency will determine its effectiveness. According to our devotional yesterday, we saw that Jehoshaphat and Peter prayed short prayers and God answered instantly. What about Bartimeaus? Jesus stood still when he prayed, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48).
While God desires fellowship and relationship which come through prayer, He also responds when we make an SOS call to Him. Short prayers are suitable in urgent situations but should not in anyway replace our regular fellowship with God.
It is true that sometimes, unexpected things happen that make us dial the emergency line to heaven. For example, a negative result from a medical test, financial and business loss, unpleasant news about a family member or even the fear of the consequence of a wrong decision. No one is immune from times like these. However, at such times, we can urgently cry out and He will hear us speedily. Charles Spurgeon quipped, “Some brethren pray by the yard; but true prayer is measured by weight, and not by length. A single groan before God may have more fulness of prayer in it than a fine oration of great length”
Short prayers are also suitable in the public after long prayer had been made in the private. Dwight Moody once remarked, “A man who prays much in private will make short prayers in public.” According to our text, lengthy public prayers is akin to religious pretension. Our Lord Jesus spent long hours of prayer, even praying throughout the night but made short prayers in the public (Luke 6:12: John 11:41-42).
Friends, don’t be a fire brigade believer. If you develop intimacy with God through prayer, your name will be under frequent callers in heaven and there will be no need for heaven to confirm your identity whenever you make an SOS call. Glory!

Prayer points
1. Father, please, teach me to be intimate with You through prayer in Jesus name.
2. Father, deliver me from the temptation of replacing intimate communion with emergency prayers in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations
1. I pray long prayers in my closet and short prayers in the public.
2. Intimacy with God through prayer makes me a frequent caller, who doesn’t need any confirmation before my emergency call is answered.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng