Quiet Times (5) - Remember the power of prayer

Ephesians 6:18: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying, for all the saints.”

A time of personal devotion without prayer, is unthinkable, because

1. Prayer is God’s appointed way to receive from God what we need. The main reason why we lack God’s complete provision, is the neglect of prayer.

2. The holy men and women in the Bible regarded prayer as the most important activity of their lives. Give a prominent place to prayer during your Quiet Times.

3. Prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important role in the earthly life of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Follow his example.

4. Praying is now the most important part of the ministry of our risen Lord in heaven. Ask Jesus to pray for you.

5. Prayer is the means that God has appointed for us to receive mercy, and obtaining grace to help us in time of need. Remember to ask for mercy – “In your mercy, Lord, hear my prayer.”

6. Prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ is the way he has appointed for his disciples to obtain fullness of joy.

7. Prayer is the means that God has appointed that we may receive freedom from anxiety and the peace of God, which passes all understanding. Just tell him what scares you, makes you anxious and is the challenge you face.

8. Prayer is the means that Christ has appointed whereby we will not be overcome by the cares of this life. Tell God about your worries and concerns.

9. Prayer promotes our spiritual growth. It is fellowship with God. Also share with God what makes you happy and excited – thanking him for it.

10. Prayer brings power into our work for him. Ask for the guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit.

11. Prayer benefits the needs of others. Name the needs of those who's troubles and challenges are on your heart.

12. Prayer brings blessings to the church. Pray for the congregation you attend, the current agenda points you are aware of, the minister, the elders, all the leaders, members who asked for prayer - by name, for the children and youth ministries and for the outreach where the church is involved.

Pray in the Name of Jesus:
Jesus said: “And I will do whatever you ask in my Name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my Name and I will do it.”

But what do we mean when we say we pray in the Name of Jesus?

It is like going to the bank of heaven when I go to God in prayer. I have nothing deposited there; I have absolutely no credit there, and if I go in my own name, I will get absolutely nothing; but Jesus Christ has unlimited credit in heaven, and he has granted me the privilege of going to the bank in heaven with his Name on my cheques; and when I go, believing I may draw on his credit, not relying on my own goodness, my prayers will be honoured.

Remember Hebrew 10:19 “ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus….”

God is pleased with his Son, Jesus Christ. He always listens to him, and therefore listens to us, if we approach him in Name of his Son. Our prayers become the prayers of Jesus before the Father, when we pray in his Name.

Tips on praying:

· Speak to God respectfully, yet boldly, because you come to him not because you are just, but because Jesus is most holy and the Father loves his Son. Say to the Father: Father I come to you, because I am one with Jesus – please listen to me for his sake.

· Be sincere. Do not try to pray in the words of your spiritual hero’s – just tell God what is on YOUR mind, in the words YOU usually use to speak to your friends.

· Prepare your prayer: Make use of the prayer schedule provided by your church and other Christians. Speak to God about your needs, not forgetting the needs being brought to your attention by the church.

· Pray with the attitude of obedience. Ask from God what you understand to promote his honour, his will and the coming of his kingdom. Pray from your Bible reading journal, reminding God of the promises you came across in Scripture, asking protection as a result of the warnings you noted and answering God about the message you received through considering his Word.

Therefore Tip#5 for our Quiet Times is: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus.

Jesus said: John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you’.
(Next week we have more tips on prayer in the Name of Jesus.)

Have you implemented Tips# 1 – 4 for your Quiet Times yet?

Tip#1: Always ask God to help you when you have your Quiet Time!
Tip#2: Always reflect.
Tip#3: Engage your brain with your heart!
Tip#4: Read the Bible well: systematic and with insight.

Then now also practice Tip#5: Make use of the power of prayer in the Name of Jesus!