TOPIC: Won’t You Pray?
MEMORISE: And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Matthew 14:23
BIBLE READING: Matthew 14:22-23
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
MESSAGE:
A popular hymn goes thus: What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and grief to bear What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit; Oh what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer. From the concluding part of the hymn above, we can see the reason many people struggle in life – they refuse to take everything to God in prayer. Most of them end up having painful experiences because they don’t tell God everything in prayer.
Prayer is communication with your Father in heaven. When you love someone with the whole of your heart, I’m sure you’d love to talk to him or her often. In the same vein, your love for God should encourage you to communicate with Him and share whatever challenges you might be having with Him, no matter how small or big they may seem. Just like Jesus prayed on the mountain and was there until evening, I want to encourage you to find a place and time to always pray so that you and God can be on the same page over all matters that concern you.
REFLECTION:
Do you have a time and a place for prayers?
HYMN: 27 – What A Friend We Have In Jesus
1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Kings 12:20-13:34, Acts 9:26-43
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu