Text: Philippians 4:6-7
Memory verse:
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
Colossians 4:2
There are three ingredients of prayer in today’s memory text. They are, perseverance, vigilance and thankfulness. Prayer becomes a play, when it is without perseverance. Let’s look at how vigilance helps you to persevere in prayer.
Sometimes, you just get overwhelmed with so many concerns that weigh the heart down. They are arrows of the devil to discourage you and make you faint in the place of prayer. At about the second year of our marriage, my wife and I had a simple misunderstanding that was growing to become an issue. One night, while we were preparing to go for the church all-night prayer, my heart became heavier. I was wondering how I would lead the church in prayer when the relationship with my wife was sour. So, I went to my study to pray. As I was crying and groaning, pleading for God’s intervention in resolving the issue, suddenly, the devil flooded my mind with thoughts that I had failed in the choice of my marriage partner and that the problem was the consequence. I became weak and couldn’t pray fervently anymore. In the midst of this, I heard the Holy Spirit call me by name and commanded me to stand up, look up and take my old prayer journal from the book shelf. He told me also to open to the page where I kept the record of the answer He gave me many years ago, when I was seeking for His direction on the choice of a marriage partner, with prayer and fasting. As I opened and read it, my faith was ignited and the zeal to pray was rekindled in me. I returned to my knees and prayed more fervently until I was satisfied. Then, when it was time, we both went to the all-night prayer meeting in our former state but miraculously returned as different persons. As we stepped into the room, what we couldn’t resolve for about three days, we sorted out within minutes. The fiery darts of the devil were quenched.
Friends, keeping records of God’s answers to your prayers will give you strength in the place of prayer. So, as you continue in prayer, be vigilant and take note of God’s answers.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, help me to always keep record of Your answers to my prayers and ignite my faith through them in Jesus name.
2. With the shield of my faith, I quench every darts of the devil fired to weary me in the place of prayer in Jesus name.
Today’s declarations
1. Without perseverance, prayer is just a play; without vigilance, I cannot persevere.
2. I am vigilant against the devil’s darts of worries, fears, guilt and cares shot to weary me in the place of prayer.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng