PRAYER: A JOYFUL RESPONSE
TO GOD’S INVITATION
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14).
Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints.” Notice that it says, “Praying always”; not “Praying sometimes.” It parallels what Jesus said in Luke 18:1: “…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
If you’re a praying Christian, you’ll be an effective Christian; effective through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to His disciples, “…without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). In prayer, you maintain
that connection in your communication; you remain open to His will and bring others to Him in your heart, as you pray for them.
Some think prayer is the response of the helpless or the weak to insurmountable and overwhelming challenges; no! Prayer, primarily, is fellowship with God; and even though when one is oppressed or
suffers injustice, he should pray, that isn’t the reason for prayer. Prayer is the joyful response of the one who, with a heart full of faith, trusts in the living God.
Prayer is a response, more to God’s invitation to pray, than the response to a situation. He invited us to pray because He intended to answer. So, the greatest part of prayer isn’t the prayer itself; it’s the answer. We haven’t had a great prayer time if we didn’t receive
answers to our prayer! Irrespective of what we have said in prayer, it’s God’s response that truly matters.
Thanks be unto God! We’re ordained to receive answers when we pray, because He said if we pray according to His will—His rule for prayer, which is praying in the Name of Jesus—He hears us. If He heard us, then He answered us. That’s the beauty of prayer: the fact that we’re guaranteed of a hearing (1 John 5:14). You ought to rejoice each time you pray and say like Jesus, “Father, I thank you, because you hear
me always” (John 11:42). Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the blessing, privilege, and opportunity of prayer; a channel for rich fellowship with you. I trust you with my life, and I’m confident that my future is secure; I’ll fulfil your destiny for me gloriously, as I remain yielded to your Spirit, guided by your wisdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18 AMPC
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: John 16:17-33 & 1 Chronicles 7-8
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Mark 14:32-42 & Numbers 35
