The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Thursday, May 16, 2024

HEARTFELT PRAYER

Prayer is the Spiritual breath of the Christian. Prayer is communicating with God. It means to entreat in the Hebrew and in the Greek, it means to ask for, want or demand for. It is pouring out our heart to the Father. Prayer is seeking the face of the Lord and waiting upon Him. Prayer is the only thing that can quench the yearning of our souls – man has an insatiable desire that can only be filed by God. Luke 18:1 “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (ESV) The early church was given to prayer Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (ESV)

According to Nelson Bible Dictionary, “Christians recognize their dependence upon their Creator. They have every reason to express gratitude for God's blessings. But they have far more reason to respond to God than this. They respond to the love of God for them. God's love is revealed through the marvelous incarnation and life of Christ, His atoning provision at the Cross, His resurrection, as well as His continuing presence through the Holy Spirit. Prayer cannot be replaced by devout good works in a needy world. Important as service to others is, at times we must turn away from it to God, who is distinct from all things and over all things. Neither should prayer be thought of as a mystical experience in which people lose their identity in the infinite reality. Effective prayer must be a scripturally informed response of persons saved by grace to the living God who can hear and answer on the basis of Christ's payment of the penalty which sinners deserved. As such, prayer involves several important aspects.” Only prayer can deliver, only prayer can defeat the purpose of Satan in our lives. It’s time to seek God in Spirit and truth through prayer. He desires to give us witty ideas and inventions, however, until we get on our knees and pray. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (ESV)

Isaiah 64:1 “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!” (NIV) God is looking for people who will pray that He tear the heavens open. Scripture teaches us that the heavens can be closed, become brazen and the earth become as iron underneath. Deuteronomy 28:23-24 “The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.”  (NIV) The only way to defeat sin in your life, is not when you sing about it, it’s not when you praise about it, it’s not when you read promises about it, it’s when you get on your knees and pray about it. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (NIV) Unction is released by prayer, the deeper you get in prayer, the greater you experience the power and presence of God, and remember, in his presence is fullness of joy. Glory to God.

Confession:

I declare that I will dwell in the shelter of the Most High God, I declare that I will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty, I declare that God is my refuge and my fortress, I declare that You are my God in whom I trust and with great confidence in whom I will rely. Jesus is Lord.

Further Reading:

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Read through the bible in 1 year: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24 John 8:31-59 Psalm 112:1-10 Proverbs 15:12-14

Read through the bible in 2 years: Matt 1-2 & Ps 129