FAITH CAPSULE: A prayer-less life is an open door for pain to come in.

1 Kings 19:17-21, Matthew 7:7-12,

It is written, “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7) How is your prayer life? Prayer is work and it excludes no man regardless of title or position inside or outside of the church. With God, prayer can never be too much but it has to be with understanding. The Bible pointed out how Jesus often withdraws to all night prayer by Himself. A prayer-less life is an open door for pain to come in. Regardless of how long one has been getting away in life without prayer, it will only take one day for pain to gain access. Apostle Paul, a giant in the hand of God knows better to pray for himself when he stated, “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly Kingdom. To Him is glory forever and ever, Amen!”(2 Timothy 4:18) He asked for deliverance despite being in position to carry out deliverance for many. He could not hide his need for being preserved by God.

In these days when wickedness is the order of the day, a believer needs a constant prayer like Paul prayed. Will you take some time to pray this prayer if you believe that God answers prayer? Surely, the Hand of God is for deliverance and preservation. When God defends His children deliverance answered in the life of His children. When God preserves His children, surely His children are blessed by being rescued from the forces of wickedness. God does have His way of working out deliverance and preservation for His own. God told Elijah at the time he was running from Jezebel, after he had killed four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings19:18) It is only God who can keep us by divine reservation, not our determination or our strength. Anyone’s determination and strength will fail just as it failed Peter when he promised not to deny Christ. However, the faithfulness of God will not fail you. Today, take time out to sincerely ask Him for deliverance and preservation. 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 7:7-8) If Paul the Apostle could ask for such, it is not beyond you to add such a prayer to your prayer list.

 Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to be strengthened on the prayer altar.