Open Heaven 7 August 2021 Monday Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
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Open Heavens 2021
Date: 2021-08-07
Topic: PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
Memory Verse: Luke 22:40 – And when he was at the place, he sold unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
Bible Reading: Luke 18:1-8
Message: The statement “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is not a piece of advice or suggestion. The importance of this statement is revealed in the words of Jesus Christ to His disciples in our memory verse of today. Luke 22:45-46 says further:
And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
The arm of flesh will always fail according to Jeremiah 17:5. This brings to mind the common saying “A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian”. A life of prayer is indeed a blessed one.
In the story of the widow in our text of today, there are many lessons we can learn. One, the judge avenged the widow of her enemies simply because, by her prayer, she compelled him to. Two, this woman did not change her prayer – she was consistent in her request. Many people gamble with their prayer lives, either not knowing or not asking for the specific things they need. They are unstable like the wave of the sea being driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:6). James 1:7-8 further says:
For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways
Such people don’t even know who to give the glory to if or when they get their miracle. They have alternatives to the miracle-working power of the Almighty, hence, they pray to God, but also seek the assistance of the arm of flesh. The result of people’s reliance on the arm of flesh is that they fail to ask earnestly and so do not have.
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Our Lord Jesus Christ in today’s text assures us that our Heavenly Father, unlike the unjust judge, will answer us speedily on one condition: if we will pray in faith and trust in Him.
As you ask in faith today, may you receive blessings beyond your wildest imaginations, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Points: Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH) today.
Bible in one year: Job 35, Job 36
Hymn: Sweet Hour Of Prayer
1
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
2
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I’ll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
3
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share
Till from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height
I view my home and take my flight.
In my immortal flesh I’ll rise
To seize the everlasting prize.
And shout while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.