This is part of a series of books in which particular verses are picked from books of the bible, and the issues of Prayer are explored, in the light of the mind of God for us.

In this book, we explore nine topics, from different verses in the books of Matthew, Luke, Romans, Colossians and 1Peter. They are: 7 things about asking from God; Prayer and God’s house; How to pray all-night, all by yourself; A house of prayer; Get up and pray; Devotion to prayer I&II; Labouring in prayer; and Be sober and of sound mind for prayer.

Excerpts:

7 things about asking from God

“We stopped looking to our pocket for sustenance but God’s own pockets since we are his children. Because we believe we confess our confidence in the divine provision, and pray assured that God will come through, that he care for us, and knows what we need and has made provision for them before we even asked.”

Prayer and God’s house

“He said he who lays his hands on the plough and looks back is not worthy of him. What he asked for his 100 percent devotion. Since he died for us, we are to no longer live the rest of our lives for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us (Galatians 2:20).”

How to pray all-night, all by yourself

“Paul said: I put my body under (1Corinthians 9:27), meaning, “I cause it to do what I want it to.” Come to think of it, Jesus ministered, talked to people all day, and sometimes prayed all-night afterward. He was a very busy man, in the day, which was why he prayed all-night, for some, being very busy is the reason they can’t pray all-night. It’s all about priority. And Jesus admonished us: men ought always to pray and not to faint (Luke 18:1).”

A house of prayer

“A house of prayer is where changes are generated all the time. It is born out of a desire to move away from the status-quo, to step into new things and to help others also. All these is keyed to faith as God said that the one who comes to him must be believe that he is and a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).”

Get up and pray

“When you are weaned from self-dependence, you will discover that you need God more than you need to breathe, as a songwriter wrote, that “he is the air I breathe”, in total dependence and neediness. Then you will get up and be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12) as you as surrounded with an unceasing atmosphere of prayer (1Thessalonians 5:17).”

Devotion to prayer (I)

“So, we invest time in prayer to reap the harvest of the will of God, the good, acceptable, perfect will of God all around us (Romans 12:1-2). And we pray: oh that you will rend the heavens and come down that the mountains may flow at your presence (Isaiah 64:1).”

Devotion to prayer (II)

“His devotion to the nation of Israel found outlet in his prayer for them. In a sense, you cannot be more devoted to someone than you are praying for or have prayed for them. Jesus expressed his devotion to Peter by praying for him. He told him: the devil wants to have you but I have prayed for you that your faith fails not (Luke 22:31-32). In the same vein, we see Paul talking about his prayer for the different churches, expressing his strong desire for them in the place of prayer.”

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