OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: TUESDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2017

THEME: PRAYERLESSNESS DISALLOWED.     


Memorise:
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41


Read: Mark 13:32-37

13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

13:33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

13:34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

13:35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

13:36 Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

13:37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.


Message:

Prayerlessness is a major challenge facing contemporary believers. Many refused to pray as they ought to because they have become overconfident and proud. The more you pray to God, the less dependent on yourself you become. As young Christians, some people prayed quite often. When they became workers in God’s vineyard, they sustained their prayer tempo, but the moment they became pastors, their prayer-life nosedived. Why the decline? It is because such people began to believe that they could now do things on their own. This is the highway to ruin. Are you praying less after God has elevated you spiritually? If your answer is yes, check yourself very well, you will discover that you now have more faith in yourself to succeed by your effort than by God’s support. This is one reason why God keeps a distance from the proud: He knows if He helps them achieve a feat, at the end, they will not think twice before taking His glory.


Besides pride, another reason for prayerlessness is carelessness. In Matthew 26:41, Jesus said:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Also, in Mark 13:32-37, the Lord emphasized the need to watch. You cannot afford to be careless. You can’t afford to be cold, lukewarm or carefree in these days that we live in. Praying goes along with watching. You cannot pray effectively if you fail to watch as well. If you watch effectively, it will help to give your prayers direction. You will know what trending issues to lift before God’s throne. You will have some burdens in the place of prayer that will only be lifted after you have prayed through. Similarly, if you watch as you should, you will be able to relate events that are happening around you with the second coming of Jesus Christ. If you are keeping watch, you will be on your guard and on your toes. If you watch, you cannot be asleep. Beloved, this is not the time to sleep but the time to be spiritually awake, alert and prepared. This is the time to pray about virtually everything that comes across our path. It is a time to wholly depend on God, who knows the way, to show us the way in the midst of growing confusion and evil spreading around the world. Wake up! Fast more! Watch more! May the Lord guide you in Jesus’ Name.
 

Prayer Point:
Father, please silence everything in me that is working against me having an effective prayer life.


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
James 1-3
Hosea 8   

                                                                                                           
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 2: 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!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, 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.


4.      Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

��� *LET US PRAY* ���

_*TUESDAY, October 31 , 2017*_

*PRAYER POINTS _PRAYERLESSNESS DISALLOWED._

1. *THANKSGIVINGS* .

2. *INTERCESSIONS/SUPPLICATIONS.*

3. *PRAYERS FROM OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL:*

----- Father, i thank you because you're A *PRAYER ANSWERING GOD.*

*_---- Father, I thank you for saving me and for the salvation of my soul....._*

*_---- Father, I thank you for the grace to be alive, today;......_*

----- *_Father, from today, please make me active in the place of prayer, in Jesus' Name......_*

----- *_Father, anytime I stand to pray, please always hearken unto me oh Lord, in Jesus' Name......_*

*_-----Father, today, please silence everything in me that is working against me having an effective prayer life, in Jesus’ Name....._*

----- *_Father, from today, please make me fervent in the place of prayer, in Jesus' Name......_*

----- *_Father, from today, let the evidence of answered prayers show in my life, in Jesus' Name......_*

4. *PERSONAL PRAYERS REQUESTS:*
-- (John 16:23 - 24,
-- LUKE 18:1,
-- MATT 7:7 - 8 )......

---- FATHER, I thank you for the answers, for in *JESUS POWERFUL* Name I have Prayed.

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens: (Tuesday, October 31, 2017) - PRAYERLESSNESS DISALLOWED 

1.Father, I acknowledge and confess, that, without you, I can do nothing.

2.Father, I thank and give you glory for all that your grace and power have helped me to achieve, so far, in life.

3.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, let every spirit of pride and prayerlessness in my life, be consumed by your fire, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, deliver me from the spirit of self and complacency; please, empower me to be fully dependent on you, for all my needs, big or small, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, let all the activities and works of the flesh, be destroyed in my life, and strengthen my spirit and inner man, to pray, without ceasing, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, keep me spiritually awake and alert at all times; please, don't let me ever, sleep the sleep of death, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, I confess, that, I don't know how to pray, as I ought to; Holy Spirit, please, help my infirmities to pray, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, please silence everything in me that is working against me having an effective prayer life.

10.Father, please, revive my prayer life; and, give me the grace to pray more, to watch more, and to fast more, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, please, keep me occupied till you come, with things of eternal spiritual values, only, in Jesus' name.

12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation