Bible Reading: Genesis 20-22 ; Matthew 7
Memory verse: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” Matthew 7:7 ( KJV)
Recently, the Lord gave me a clearer understanding of prayer through the happenings between a boss and his subordinate. It happened that there was something the sub needed the assistance of his boss to execute. He told his boss once and he agreed. But immediately after that, he never reminded the boss till the day came and passed. The sub was not happy and complained of his boss not being good. The boss on the other hand was cool as if nothing happened. He waved it aside saying his sub was not serious at all, that he was never reminded about it after being told once!
The above applies when we pray. Prayer must be a continuous thing. We must keep coming to God as a sign of total dependency on Him. The more you come to Him in reminder of that issue of concern, the more humble and dependent you are. But for a person to feel he has prayed and no need going back to God, such a person may end up not receiving. Matthew 7:7 (KJV) says, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Jesus encourages perseverance in prayer which is a process that starts with ‘asking’. Asking means to be conscious of your need and the belief that God hears your prayers. With that consciousness and belief, you move to seeking. This means earnest petitioning along with obedience to the will of God. Knocking implies perseverance in coming to God even when He does not respond quickly.
God will always respond in His time. His time is when He has appointed the timing of that thing you seek. Ecclesiastes 3:11a (KJV) says, “He hath made everything beautiful in his time:…” In today’s bible reading, the bible tells us in Genesis 21:1-2 (KJV), “And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken. [2] For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”
God is never in a hurry; but always on time. He has perfect timing: never early, never late. But we are encouraged by Jesus to do our part by persevering in prayer. Perseverance shows you depend totally on Him.
Prayer: Dear Father, give me the grace to persevere in prayer.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu