FAITH CAPSULE: All year long demands prayer but this time of the year calls for prayer to be intensified.

Psalm 28, Matthew 6:5-15

Obeying the command of God is a blessing and not obeying His commands brings forth a curse. Jesus commanded, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew &:7-8) Are you one that takes time to ask, seek or knock on man for solution or on Jesus for solution? The word of God that commands us to pray will deliver when we pray. God is a prayer answering God. The same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow is still answering prayers. What is wrong with your prayer? Is your prayer getting through or getting shelved? It is written, “He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye shall He not see?” (Psalm 94:9)  God hears us before we ask. Most times, our manner of asking is what needs attention. How you ask and what you ask for has much to with what you get for an answer. It is written, “But when you pray, go into your room; and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (Matthew 6:6) Among prayer hindering forces, which of the above hinders your prayer? Is it your location that identifies you before everyone as one who knows how to pray? Remember, it is not of determination; it is of grace. Is it the choice of words you use to impress the listener that guides your prayer? Repetition is a sure way to hinder your prayer. Among prayer hindering forces mentioned by David is, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18) God’s Word is true. Meditate on His word. God does not lie and since He has said He will answer when you call, He will not fail. It is a blessing to, “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)  The time that you spend in prayer is time spent waiting on the Lord; the time it takes to get answer is also time spent waiting on the Lord. Waiting demands that you wait in faith. All year long demands prayer but this time of the year calls for prayer to be intensified. God will answer you this day in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to increase and be consistent in waiting on God.