MEMORISE:
Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. John 12:28
READ: Matthew 17:1-9
1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
MESSAGE
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. 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:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
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 says,
“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”
Furthermore, our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 7:7, says.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto 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).
ACTION POINT:
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.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 3
Jeremiah 51:6-23
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 8: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!
While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!
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