Men ought always to pray and not lose heart (25 May 2014)

Most of us have heard and/or read about the importance of prayer in our spiritual growth. Yet, really how many of us are consistently communicating with our Almighty, loving heavenly Father.

I am truly one of the guilty ones. Luke 18:1 was the scripture verse that the Lord gave to me on my water baptism day in Bethesda Chapel. You see, human forgets easily. We are easily distracted by the many attractions or should I say distractions and demands of every day. Though I have seen His awesome power manifested in the many answers to prayers yet I am not as fervent as I should be in my prayer life.

Wow, our LORD is truly merciful. When we fail to seek the LORD in prayer; we are the one that is really missing out on His marvellous blessings towards us.

I am comforted to know that despite my weakness in prayer God’s love towards me endures forever.

For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.”  Eph 3:14-21

Dearly beloved, our prayer life is a yardstick of how intimate our relationship is with our heavenly Father.  Our Lord Jesus Christ has Himself set us example to imitate.

“Very early in the morning while it was till dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place to pray.” Mark 1:35

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” Matt 6:9-13

He modelled this prayer; Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, he said to them: “pray that you will not fall into temptation. He withdrew about a stone’s throw away beyond them, knelt down and prayed “Father if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” However, on the contrary, three times after Jesus prayed and returned, He found the disciples sleeping.” Luke 22:39-46, Mark 14:32-42

Our flesh is weak; that is why all the more we need to pray without losing heart.

Are there prayers you have been praying for a long while that is yet to be answered? Example, salvation of loved ones, don’t lose heart continue to pray.

“Jesus said, I will tell you the truth; my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:23-24

Indeed, I pray that our joy will be complete as we continue to pray without losing heart and seeing how our Father will answer our prayers far exceedingly and more abundantly than what we can think of.

 

Brother David Chua Eng Bee