You have more to learn

Thu, 19 Sep 2024

‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD.’ Hosea 6:3

Having a ‘statement of faith’ is a good thing because it lets people know your beliefs and values and where you stand on the issues. But it also carries with it a certain danger; you can end up believing you know all there is to know about the subject or at least all that is important to know. The Bible challenges us to keep learning and growing spiritually: ‘Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. ...’ (Hosea 6:3 KJV). The New King James Version says, ‘Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. …’. In Scripture, the word ‘reveal’ is used thirty-eight times. Clearly, God wants us to get that there is more to know about Him than what we think we know. That’s why you must always keep your mind open. The day you stop ‘following’ God or ‘pursuing’ God is the day you stop learning more about God and growing spiritually. God has more to reveal to you!

Paul writes: ‘… “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For His Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us’ (1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NLT). So, the word for today is – you have more to learn.

Wow!.....better to have wisdom and be at peace, than wealth and let the devil rule your world.

In all your getting, get wisdom & get understanding. 🤔

Sonnobax15:

I'm a very slow eater....I love eating,while reminiscing on the taste of the meal I don't want to be rushed at all.

As a matter of fact,that's one of the reasons why I love eating on my own,cuz I always feel cheated when I'm eating with a fast eater

Eating competition is one game I can never partake in cuz na me go must carry last

wow 😲.....you see me finish here oooo 😁😁😁

Naa earthworm you no know? 🙆

E'kolo (Yoruba)

*MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA*

WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 2024.

*GUARANTEED TRIUMPH OVER LIFE'S STORMS AND FIRE*

*TEXT:* ISAIAH 43:1-4.

1.But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

*Timeless Truth:* _" These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."_ John 16:33.

*INTRODUCTION*

Dennis Cauchon painted the terrorists' attack of the Twin Towers on 11th September 2001, called 09/11 as
"George Sleigh, a British-born naval architect, was on the phone in his 91st floor office when he heard the roar of jet engines. An American Airline Boeing 767 was hurtling toward him at 500 mph, loaded with 92 people and 15,000 gallons of jet fuel. The jet exploded into the 93rd through the 98th floors of the World Trade Centre’s north tower with force equal to 480,000 pounds of TNT. It was 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11.
The walls, the ceiling, and bookshelves crumbled. Sleigh, 63, manager of technical consistency at the American Bureau of Shipping, crawled from the rubble. He looked up at exposed steel beams and the concrete underside of the 92nd floor. He didn’t know it at the time, but that concrete floor was the bottom of a tomb for more than 1,300 people. Nobody survived on the floors, which was about 110, above him. But on his floor and below, an amazing story unfolded: Nearly everyone lived.
The line between life and death that morning was as straight as a steel beam. Everyone on the 92nd floor died. Everyone on the 91st floor lived. Some called it luck. Some called it amazing for those few survivors. The fact still remains that there are incidences that can be described as storms and fire in a man's sojourn on earth that only the supernatural power of God can guarantee victory and deliverance. The text gives one of those assurances of God to His saints that in all situations of life, no matter how fearful and threatening, God is always there as a Guarantor of victory for the saints.

*1. The Redeemer's Promise of Deliverance*

a. The promise of a man is as reliable as his personality and possessions. God gave His promises without partiality to all His saints in both the Old and the New Testaments. The promises given in the Old Testament have better and greater versions in the New Testament because the New Testament is *"established on a a better covenant, which was established upon better promises"* (Hebrews 8:6).
b. *"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee"*. He did not promise to take the saints through where there would be no threat of drowning waters. He only promised to be with us while in the midst of it. The disciples were forgetful of this promise when they cried to Christ *"carest not thou that we perish"* when it appeared the waters of the sea would drown them with Jesus inside with them. They could not drown because God had promised to be with them. And Jesus was even physically with them. *"And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee"*. Even when the rivers fearfully appear to be reaching the neck and about to drown the saints, the promise is sure: *"They shall not overflow thee"*. There are circumstances that are comparable to passing through fire. *"When thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned"*. You could not even run out but was forced to patiently walk through it. Yet, *"you shall not be burnt"*. The three Hebrew children were blessed to prove the reliability of this promise when they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Jesus eventually was with them in faithfulness to His Word, and the fire did not burn them. While outsiders were pitying them for the fire, they were enjoying the presence of the Son of God with them in the fire. God always gives the grace to cope with difficult situations that they will still be rejoicing in the fire while outsiders will be looking at them with pitiable wonders. While water overwhelms and drowns, fire consumes and destroys. While the promises of God do not exclude the saints from passing through the waters and the fire, they promise them full divine presence and preservation. Thus, Jesus said emphatically and commanded, *"Fear not; for I have redeemed thee"*. These unbreakable promises are for those that have been redeemed from sin and power of sin through salvation by the Redeemer.

*Question*
Are you passing through challenges that are compared to devastating storms, floods, and fire? Do you accept the command of the Master that says *"Fear not"?*

*2. The Reasons for Preservation from Destruction*

a. What were the reasons for God's great promises of preservation, protection, and deliverance? He gave His reasons. *"Fear not: I have redeemed thee"*. He is our Redeemer who has used His own blood to pay the price for our deliverance from the slave market. How could someone pay such a price and will allow any evil to happen to such a person, and He will fold His hands? *"Thou art mine"*. Through redemption and salvation, you don't belong to the world or Satan anymore. You now belong to God. Will any normal human being allow his precious property to be destroyed when it is within his power to preserve it? Believers belong to God by creation and by redemption. They are redeemed for specific purpose. He is so loving and wise than to look at the devourers devouring His redeemed helplessly. If the great Shepherd can die to save the sheep, there is no price too high for Him to pay to save the saints from all evil.
b. The climax of the reasons for our protection, preservation, and victory are guaranteed are revealed in the text. *"Since thou wast precious in my sight"*. Can anyone doubt the fact that he is precious in the eyes of God who left His holy heaven and came to die the most wretched death in order to save us? *"And I have loved thee"*. This is in line with the revelation of the New Testament *"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son"*. If the love is not genuine and deep, Jesus would not have gone far to the cross for mankind. Those saints who suffer from inferiority complex and low self esteem have not internalized, accepted and believed this great truth of the scriptures that they are precious and loved by the God of heaven though the world may despise them.

*Question*
Do you accept and believe that God loves you and you are precious to Him and His promises are reliable?

*3. The Reassurance through the Past Demonstrations*

a. In case Israel might still have doubts about the faithfulness of God to keep to these promises, God referred them to what He had done before. *"I have redeemed thee"*. The children of Israel passed through the iron furnace in Egypt and God by His outstretched arm redeemed them from the hands of Pharaoh. *"I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee"*. The whole army of the Egyptians, including Pharaoh, were drowned in the sea as a result of the love and care God had for Israel. He will do anything necessary to protect and keep you from all evils, threats, and cruel assaults. What God did was a clear assurance that since God did something greater before, there is nothing to suggest He that can not do it again. The saints of today are redeemed from the strong hold of sin, Satan, and sicknesses. Jesus went to the cross to pay the ultimate price for our redemption, and we can now experience full and complete freedom. Is that not an assurance that we should not fear whatever we are passing through? *"He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"* (Romans 8:32).
b. When the Lord commanded *"Fear not", it is wisdom to put all our trust in Him. The storms of life and the strong and hot wind that blows coupled with consuming fire of the wicked are not powerful enough to destroy or stop the journey of His trusting children towards their heavenly Canaan.

Children of perdition 😭😭😭. No matter how life treat them good, yet they will still find a way to destroy themselves.

Anyway, bye-bye to Puff Daddy. Stay well in jail.

Making the right choice

Wed, 18 Sep 2024

‘For the LORD gives wisdom.’ Proverbs 2:6

Maybe you’re facing graduation. More frequently than ever before, people are switching to different jobs and companies and changing their whole careers. In 2014, career specialist Andy Chan observed that young adults will face, on average, twenty-nine jobs over their lifetime. In 2013 Oxford researchers predicted that about half the jobs will be replaced with technology by 2033. So, how do you adjust to a constantly changing environment? Perhaps you’re in a rut. Your life is safe but unrewarding. You want to do more or be more. Perhaps you’re facing an empty nest. You abruptly find independence and time and options that have been unavailable to you for a few decades. What’s the best way to use them? Possibly you’re retiring. What might God have next for you? Maybe you have travelled abroad and seen a great need or have investigated a problem and want to make a difference. What should you do next? Perhaps you’re considering marriage. How can you tell if this person is the right one? What if you make a mistake? Or maybe you have been agonising over a lost opportunity in your past. Will God give you another one?

In answering these questions, you must keep two things in mind. First and foremost, God is more interested in what you become than where you go or what you do for a living. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose’ (Romans 8:28 NKJV). Second, you will save yourself time, trouble, and possible heartache by consulting God before making any decision. ‘For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;’ (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV).

Decision-making is character building

Tue, 17 Sep 2024

‘The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave … and go to the land that I will show you.”’ Genesis 12:1

An author pens: ‘Would you want the kind of kids you have to tell their whole lives, “Wear these clothes. Take these classes. Go to that school. Apply for this job. Marry that person. Purchase this house,” and you always have them do exactly what you tell them as long as they live? No … Why? Because your main goal is … that they become people of great character and judgment. The only way for them to do that is to make lots and lots of decisions. Of course, that means they’ll make a lot of wrong decisions. That becomes a primary way they learn.’

‘Very often God’s will for you will be “I want you to decide,” because decision-making is an indispensable part of character formation. God is primarily in the character-forming business, not the circumstance-shaping business.’ Abraham didn’t say, ‘Lord, exactly where are you taking me? How is the economy there? What are the job market and the housing market like? Do they have good medical facilities and schools?’. The Bible says, ‘It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going’ (Hebrews 11:8 NLT). Abraham decided to follow God, and trust God with everything else. And he came out on top! God does not promise to give us details but to give us wisdom. ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him’ (James 1:5 ESV). Why does God do it this way? Because decision-making is character-building.

Completed version ☝️

I'm so sorry not to have realized that the text wasn't completed this morning, until one of the brother called my attention to it.

God bless you Bro. Eric in Jesus name 🙏

Anchors for your soul (3)

Mon, 16 Sep 2024

‘I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.’ Acts 27:25

Third, anchored by God’s promises. The third anchor that gives us confidence in a crisis is found in Paul’s words, ‘So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me’ (Acts 27:25 NIV). If you have ever been betrayed by an unfaithful spouse, you may have lost trust in marriage. If you’re a victim of the mortgage crisis, you may have lost your home and your trust in the financial industry. If you voted for someone you believed had integrity only to discover they were in the pocket of special interest groups, you may have lost your trust in government. But never ever lose trust in the promises of God! Look in the face of your storm today and sing the words of this famous hymn by Russell Carter: ‘Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling winds of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God, I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.’ You may lose your cargo, you may lose your ship, you may even go overboard—but you’re going to prevail because of God’s promises to you. As the old saying goes, ‘God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!’. If you’re in crisis today, here are some Bible promises you can stand on: ‘The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, “Destroy them!”’ (Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV). ‘You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great’ (Psalm 18:35 NASB20). ‘Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will carry you! I have done it, and I will bear you; And I will carry you and I will save you.’ (Isaiah 46:4 NASB20).

How does the meeting benefit Nigerians? 🤔

Anchors for your soul (2)

Sun, 15 Sep 2024

‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar.’ Acts 27:24

Second, anchored by God’s plan and purpose. The second anchor in a time of crisis is found in Acts 27:24, where Paul quotes God’s angel: ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ In other words, ‘You’re on board this ship because I have a purpose for your being here. And my eternal purpose for your life is greater than this temporary storm.’ Have you discovered your God-given purpose yet? You’re not here on earth simply to take up space; God has a specific plan for you. The storm you’re caught in right now is just a temporary setback. Absolutely nothing can change God’s plan for your life unless you choose to disobey Him. And yes, you can do that. But the Scriptures teach that no outside person or force can change God’s plan for your life or alter His divine purpose as long as you’re willing to say, ‘Lord, I want to do your will.’ As surely as God told Paul, ‘You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you,’ He is saying to you, ‘I will bring you through this storm.’ When you focus on your God-given purpose, He empowers you to overcome your problems. That’s why Paul wrote: ‘ ... I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us’ (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT).

Anchors for your soul (1)

Sat, 14 Sep 2024

‘An angel of … God … stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid.”’ Acts 27:23-24

While everyone else on board Paul’s ship was in a state of panic, he remained at peace. Why? Because of three great truths that serve as anchors for our souls, truths you can build your life on that will steady you in the storm. Let’s look at each.

First, anchored by the presence of God. In the midst of the storm, Paul announced, ‘Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul. …”’ (Acts 27:23-24 NIV). Life’s storms can never conceal us from God. Even when we don’t see Him, He sees us. We may feel He is a million miles away, but He is with us and is looking after us. God dispatched a personal emissary, an angel, to tell Paul, ‘I am with you. I see you in the stormy Mediterranean Sea in that little ship.’

The truth is, God is with you in the storm you’re going through today, and if you need assurance of His presence, meditate on these Scriptures and stand on them: ‘“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you’ (Isaiah 54:10 NIV). “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go … I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you’ (Genesis 28:15 NIV). ‘… “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”’ (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). So, anchor your soul to God’s Word today, and let nothing move you.

When you’re not certain, trust God

Fri, 13 Sep 2024

‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ 2 Corinthians 5:7

Close your eyes and try walking without sight, and you will get an idea of what it means to walk by faith. Faith in what? The unchanging character of God, goodness of God, love of God, and truth that He always has your best interests at heart. With God, information is given on a need-to-know basis. And God determines who needs to know what and when. Here is an example of this: the early church needs to decide if God is calling them to include Gentiles. After much prayer, they send out this letter: ‘It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us …’ (Acts 15:28 NIV). Really? Seemed good? The future of the entire human race is at stake, and the best you can do is ‘it seemed …’? Yet the church leaders were quite comfortable sending out this letter.

Apparently, God’s will for His people was that they should not be told precisely what His will was, or at least not all the details. Presumably, He knew they would grow more if they had to think and discuss and hash it out rather than get a memo. Evidently, they didn’t require certainty. They were happy to settle for heartfelt obedience. When Paul says we ‘walk’ by faith, he is referring to the slowest form of transportation known to man. He is also referring to a process that happens one step at a time. God has the satellite view; He sees your entire journey from beginning to end and plans each step. And He says, ‘Do what I have given you to do, and when you have done it, I will show you what I want you to do next.’

God 🙏

God be with them

Open doors

Thu, 12 Sep 2024

‘A door was opened to me by the Lord.’ 2 Corinthians 2:12

A noted author states: ‘People who study entrepreneurs say they excel in something called “opportunity alertness.” They look at the same circumstances as everyone else, but they “notice, without search, opportunities that have hitherto been overlooked.” They are “alert, waiting, continually receptive to something that may turn up.”’. Paul was such a person. ‘Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s Gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV). He practised ‘divine opportunity alertness’. And you can too. For Paul, walking through the doors God opened often led to hardship. But they also led to great achievement.

Open doors don’t come with a meticulous set of instructions about precisely what you should do and exactly what will occur as a result. To discover what’s on the other side of the open door, you have to go through it. Will you experience fear? Any time you attempt the untried, unknown, and undone, you will experience fear. That’s when you need to remind yourself that whatever awaits you on the other side of that door, God will be there. Here are two things you need to keep in mind.

First, sometimes an open door doesn’t signify going to someplace new; it means recognising a new and previously undetected opportunity in an old place.

Second, open doors never exist solely for the advantage of the people offered them. They are an opportunity to bless others (see Genesis 12:1-3). An open door never exists for your benefit alone. Has God opened a door for you? If He has, don’t hesitate or vacillate; walk through it.

UDOKABESTLUV:
My Prayer Is That, You Will Not Die In Sleep 😴

Can't really say amen to that though 🤔

Breaking the 11th commandment. UK doesn't joke with such at all.

Talk, we dey hear & follow.

Choose the right attitude

Wed, 11 Sep 2024

‘Think on these things … and the God of peace shall be with you.’ Philippians 4:8-9

An author writes: ‘Columbia researcher Sheena Iyengar has found that the average person makes about seventy conscious decisions every day. That’s 25,550 decisions a year. Over seventy years, that’s 1,788,500 decisions. Albert Camus said, “Life is a sum of all your choices.” You put all those 1,788,500 choices together, that’s who you are. Victor Frankl was a brilliant doctor whom the Nazis imprisoned in a concentration camp. They took away his livelihood, confiscated his possessions, mocked his dignity, and killed his family. They locked him in a cell with no way out … But he found a door that his guards did not know about: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” He found that when his circumstances had closed every outer door to him, they revealed to him the doors that matter far more—the doors through which a soul can leave fear and enter into courage, leave hatred and enter into forgiveness, leave ignorance and enter into learning. He discovered that his guards were actually far more imprisoned—by cruelty and ignorance and foolish obedience to barbarism—than he was imprisoned by walls and barbed wire. Some people learn this and become free; some never see it and live their lives as prisoners.’

The difference is in the door you choose or the attitude you choose. That’s why Paul writes: ‘Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, … honest, … just, … pure, … lovely, … of good report, … think on these things’ (Philippians 4:. Today, choose the right attitude!

My prayers with Maiduguri.......🙏

Honour God in all you do

Tue, 10 Sep 2024

‘Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked.’ Psalm 1:1

When Moses commanded Pharaoh to set God’s people free, Pharaoh offered him three compromises. First, he offered to let them go if they didn’t go too far away. Second, he offered to let them go provided they left their children in Egypt. Third, he offered to let them go provided they left their business interests in Egypt. In each case, Moses said no. And Satan will make you those same offers. Put distance between yourself and the world. Refuse to let it have your children. Refuse to live by the world’s self-centred and often unethical business practices. You are called to love and minister to those around you but not to become like them.

One of the great gifts that God has given us is the gift of free will. You can choose! If you want to enjoy God’s blessings, you need to make lifestyle choices that line up with His will and are consistent with the values of His Word, not choices reflecting the constantly eroding values of the world systems around you. The way to succeed in life is to stand on Bible principles. Here are two Scriptures you need to meditate on and keep in mind: ‘The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it’ (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV). ‘But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Today pray, ‘Lord, I don’t want to live by the world’s standards. I put you first in my life because I know your ways are always best.’

Do it in Christ’s strength, not your own

Mon, 9 Sep 2024

‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13

One of the quickest ways to get discouraged is to try living the Christian life in your own strength. It’s like trying to lift yourself up by your bootstraps; it cannot be done. Indeed, God designed it that way. Jesus said: ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NKJV).

God’s commandments are never too difficult for us to follow—if we do them through Christ’s indwelling strength. And you must learn to draw on that strength daily. He is in you and with you at all times to enable you to do what you cannot do and to do with ease what you would otherwise find hard to do without Him. Paul talked about the constant struggle between his flesh and his spirit. At times it drove him to despair. Then he gives us the key to victorious Christian living: ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 ESV). Learn from the light bulb; it cannot illuminate itself. But when it’s connected to an electrical power source, all that’s required is to flip a switch. So, do it in Christ’s strength, not your own.

Lie.

God please help humanity 🙏

Thank God for Joseph 🙏

I believe

Zonefree:
If you call them sex objects now, they'll start another protest.

are they not? 🤷

Expect good things from God

Sun, 8 Sep 2024

‘Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you.’ Isaiah 30:18

Your concept of God determines your confidence in approaching Him. Do you always view Him like an auditor, and your books don’t balance? Or do you view Him like a father who loves you at all times and wants to be good to you? When approaching God, many of us consult a mental scorecard to see whether we have more wins than losses, rights than wrongs, credits than demerits. If we feel like we’re not performing well, we avoid God or make Him our last resort. That’s a mistake because God sees you ‘in Christ’ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17), and therefore, you are always accepted and welcomed into His presence. You say, ‘Does that mean I can live any way I please?’. No, ‘… the Lord disciplines the one he loves, …’ (Hebrews 12:6 NIV).

But His correction is not rejection; it’s proof that you are truly His redeemed child. Here is a Scripture you need to meditate on: ‘Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him’ (Isaiah 30:18 NASB20). Note God’s attitude towards you today: ‘The LORD longs to be gracious to you’. Keep that picture in mind and begin to expect good things from God.

Two prayer principles

Sat, 7 Sep 2024

‘But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father.’ Matthew 6:6

When it comes to the importance of having a consistent prayer life, Jesus is our greatest example. Before He calmed the storm in Galilee, called His twelve disciples, or fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish, He spent time alone in prayer. And you have been called to follow in His footsteps (see 1 Peter 2:21). In essence, our failures are often the result of our failure to pray. Jesus gave His disciples two prayer principles that will work for you.

First, He said, ‘But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, …’ (Matthew 6:6 NIV). In other words, find a quiet place where you won’t be distracted. After all, you are meeting with God. As you spend time there, you will grow to love this place, and it will become your ‘secret place’ (see Psalm 91:1 NKJV).

Second, Jesus said, ‘And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him’ (Matthew 6:7-8 NIV). The words ‘don’t babble’ may sound harsh. But what Jesus is saying to us is, ‘Focus; be with Me. Open your heart. Get real. Stand on My Word and believe Me for answers’. After the church prayed all night for Peter to be delivered from prison, the Bible says ‘they were astonished’ when God did it (see Acts 12:16 NKJV). You might say, ‘That’s bad’. Actually, that’s good! It means even though your faith may be weak, when you pray, God will answer you. So, keep praying and standing on His Word.