Monday February 20th, 2023
Meditate on: John 12:28 GNT
« Father, bring glory to your name! Then a voice spoke from heaven, “I have brought glory to it, and I will do so again.” »
Read: Matthew 17:1-9 NKJV
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”
Understand
Prayer is a two-way communication with God or a solemn request for help addressed to Him.
As a form of intimate communication with God in worship, it usually consists of thanksgiving, adoration, confession, intercession and petition.
Based on God’s love for His children, He made prayer available as a means of communicating with Him.
God’s grace gives us things we do not deserve, while His mercy shields us from things that are detrimental to our wellbeing (payment for breaking His laws).
We connect with His grace and mercy when we pray.
As believers in Christ, we are able to relate with God on a personal level in the place of prayer because God manifested himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, and He has opened to us the door of access to the throne room of heaven.
He desires all men and women created in his image and redeemed by His Blood to call upon His Name in Prayer, and He promises that they will receive answers from Him.
Through our answered prayers, He proves His existence and ability to do all things.
Matthew 6:6 says:
« When you want to pray, set a specific time apart, go in a secluded place, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly (answered prayers = visible blessings) . »
Prayer is an act of faith because it carries with it the assumption that God is willing and at the same time able to hear and respond to the petitions of His children.
When we pray, we acknowledge our weakness, limitation and total helplessness, while declaring total trust and reliance on God’s power to solve whatever problem is presented to Him.
Prayer is therefore both a wonderful privilege and a solemn responsibility for God’s children.
Speaking on prayer, Jeremiah 29:12 CSB says:
« You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. »
Furthermore, our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 7:7 NIV, says.
« Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you: »
These passages and many more in the Bible clearly reveal God’s attitude towards prayer.
God is a prayer-answering God who is always move by love and compassion to respond to the prayer request of His children. Be encouraged therefore to come boldly to the throne of grace with the assurance of obtaining mercy, favor and spiritual empowerment in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Application: Consciously listen to hear God speak to you whenever you pray. The answer to your prayers could be in what He drops into your heart or speaks in your ears.
Author : Pst E. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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