How Important?

Thursday, January 23, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Matthew 7:7-8

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:  Exodus 7-8 Matthew 15:1-20

How Important Is Prayer?

How important is prayer to you? Look in the mirror and ask yourself- "Before God, how important is prayer to me?”

Prayer is one of the most important things we will ever do in our Christian life.

James 5:16 (ESV)

16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

How do you pray? Do you have a plan you follow? Do you have a special time? Do you have a prayer list? How long do you pray? Do you limit your prayer time?

Let’s start with what the Bible says that Jesus did. The Bible records that Jesus was in an attitude of prayer most of the time.

Before he chose the 12 apostles, He prayed all night.

Luke 6:12 “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

He prayed in the morning: Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

He prayed before meals, after meals, before miracles-He prayed on the cross-He blessed the food after His resurrection(Lk 24:30).

But today, it is for us to comprehend and think of His ‘intercession for us’.

Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost  those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

>We are with Him at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 2:6 ►”And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”

> His Holy Spirit is with us here.

John 16:13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

We are ‘seated’ with Christ -in real time-the Holy Spirit speaks to us what He hears for us individually. This is why a ‘secret time’-a time we set aside to listen and speak to God without the pressures of the outside world in sight-is so very important. It is when we are most aware of all being in one place together. When we think of it in this way, we may sit in awe-our words will be heard...but just to sit and listen and be still in the glory of His presence.

How important is prayer to you?

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Hallowed be Your glorious name. Your kingdom come and my desire for You increase. Give me what I need and the wisdom to recognize it. Forgive me my desire to sin. Lead me away from it.

Great and Holy God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen