Brethren, it is absolutely necessary at this point in time to be in the mood of prayer, because the situation we have found ourselves demands fervent prayer. Whether by omission or commission, it is very obvious that the circ*mstance we have found ourselves is beyond our control. We can’t help ourselves or find a rescuer to come to our aid. Government has failed us; our leaders have no solution to offer to the problem. Scientists are handicapped and have thus failed us. The devil has gone haywire in attacking mankind through the plague called COVID-19.
Presently, it has become very unsafe to socialise with people, move about and visit prayer houses. So, our only option now is to pray to Almighty God, wherever we may be, to intervene in our plight and give answers to our prayers. He answered the chosen ones in the Bible days, including Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul and Silas. If we can humble ourselves and pray wherever we may be, I am sure He will answer us.
Psalm 99: 6 says, “Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.”
When God designs mercy, He puts it into the hearts of His people to pray for it. And when such a spirit of prayer is poured out, it evokes mercy, which prevails against any judgment meted for it, thus answer is given to the prayer. Those notable chosen people of old wonderfully interacted with God in prayers, and consequently miracles were wrought at their request. They pleaded to God for the people, and obtained answers of peace. Our Prophet and High Priest, Jesus Christ our Lord, Who has greater worth than Moses, Aaron, or Samuel, has received and declared to us the will of the Father. He encouraged us to pray whenever we are in need, and assured that our Father will give answer to our supplications that are according to His will.
Paul and Silas were bound and tortured, yet they prayed and praised God and God heard them and answered them. No matter how ugly your situation may be, I am sure, if you can pray to God today, He will answer you. No matter your condition or situation, the same God Who answered Paul is still alive to answer your prayers in Jesus name.
1Tim. 2: 8 says, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
There is no particular place meant for Prayer. It is expected that men should pray wherever and whenever the need arises, regardless of where the place is situated. We must pray in the open and our closets, pray during meals, pray when we are on journeys, and in solemn assemblies. And we must pray in faith, without doubting, and without disputing. Additionally, if we are to expect answer to our prayers, we must ensure that we appear before God with holy hands, devoid of anger or any form of wickedness because heartiness and sincerity in seeking God assures a gracious answer.
James 5:15 says, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
The above scriptural context shows the good effects of prayer. The Bible did not ascribe the sick man’s recovery to the oil, but to the prayer. The prayer of faith shall save the sick, for the Lord answers prayers made with true faith in God.
Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Here, Jesus lays down the broad rule in the application of which we must be guided. The rule is that we must not expect to receive answers to that which is unlawful. Thus, we must keep away from such sin as faithlessness, unbelief, unforgiveness, complaining, murmuring and bitterness, among others, as they hinder prayers.
Isaiah 59:1-3 says, “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.”
No one prays in sin and expects his or her prayers to be answered. And so, if you must pray, ensure you confess and renounce all known and unknown sins. Many have prayed and are still praying without receiving answers to their prayers, because they pray without purity of heart and holiness.
Matt. 7:7-11 says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him?
The Lord has assured us that whenever we call upon Him, He will answer us. If we pray according to God’s Will, He will give answers to our prayers in Jesus name.
Isaiah 65:24 says, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
Dearly beloved, God answers prayers. This is one of His titles of honour. He is the God that hears prayers, and it is as truly ascribed to Him as mercy or justice is ascribed to Him. He hears all prayers, and that is why all flesh come to Him. He never rejects anybody that deserves answer to prayer, no matter how weak the petitioner is. He only requests the supplicant to conform to His nature of holiness. The Scripture says He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. As sure as God is the true God, so sure is it that none who sought Him diligently ever departed from Him without a reward. Our God rewards all who seek Him, and if all, why not you? Every sincere prayer is as surely heard as it is offered, so pray now.
You may have been praying in a particular place and have not got any answer. I want you to try the God of Chosen. He is a prayer answering God, as long as you are a child of God that is living right. And if peradventure you are not, as you decide to pray in repentance with a broken heart, my Lord will answer you today in Jesus name. God promised to answer us, as soon as the prayer is formed in our hearts and before it could get out of our lips. We, the chosen people have evidences in our midst to prove that God answers prayers. Thus, we take time to celebrate testimonies because every one of us has one testimony or another to give on daily basis. This does not mean that the Chosen people are exempted from trouble, but they have God’s promise that in all their trials, He will be with them, deliver and make them partakers of His everlasting salvation. As He gives answers to the Chosen people, so also He does to all that keep to the precepts and practices of the Scripture.
1 Jn 5:13- 14 says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ emboldens us to come to God in all circ*mstances, with all our supplications and requests. Through Him, our petitions are admitted and accepted by God.
The matter of our prayer must be agreeable to the declared will of God. It is not fit that we should ask what is contrary, either to His majesty and glory or to our own good. If we pray accordingly, we should have confidence that our prayer done in faith shall be heard in heaven, for God will never suffer anybody, who sincerely asks according to His will to lack.
The advantage accruing to us by such privilege is that, if we know that He hears us, then whatsoever we ask, we should know that we have the assurance that we shall receive it. Great are His deliverances, mercies, and blessings, which the holy petitioner enjoys. To know that our petitions are heard is as good as to know that they are answered.
Remember that you must not pray for yourself alone, but also for others; for your brethren that have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, that they may be enlightened, converted, and be saved; for your brethren in the Christian profession, that they may be sincere, that their sins may be pardoned, and that they may be delivered from evils and the chastisem*nts of God, and be preserved in Christ Jesus. Yes, we pray for their deliverance from evil because so long they are in the flesh, the enemy is bound to attack. But such temporal attacks are sent by God to remind men of their sins, and lead them to repentance, that they may escape everlasting punishment.
2 Chron.6: 28-30 states, “If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be: 29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house: 30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)”
The prayers of hypocrites cannot be heard, nor of any but of them who pray to God with a true faith and in true repentance. The forgiveness of our sins is that which makes way for all the other answers to our prayers. When prayers are made in the right way, there is every assurance that answers will be given because God returns in mercy to His people, when they repent, and reform, and seek Him. Are you experiencing challenge in any area of your life, whether spiritual or physical, or under the attack of COVID-19, I urge you to pray, for I am sure the Almighty God will answer you today in Jesus name.
