DCLM Sincere Milk 28 February 2024 — We Must Pray
DCLM Sincere Milk 28 February 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — We Must Pray
Topic: We Must Pray
Text: Luke 18:1-8
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Key Verse: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1
Message
Some children think only people who have problems should pray. Some others think that since their parents pray for them, they do not need to pray. There are others who only pray when in church or during family devotion without a personal time of prayer. All these thoughts are wrong. Just as a child cannot survive without food and water, so also a child of God cannot survive without prayer. Though we should pray when there is a need or problem, we must also pray when there is no need or problem. Prayer is talking to God. We pray because we are inadequate in ourselves to do all that God wants us to do. We must daily pray to receive grace and strength to overcome temptations, just as we eat to receive physical strength.
We must pray to receive the fulfillment of God’s promises. Although Jacob already had a promise of great blessings pronounced on him, he still had to pray at Jabbok so that the promises could become a reality. We must not just pray, but pray until answer is given, like Jacob persisted in prayer until he got the answer to his request. You should persist in prayer until you have a pure heart (sanctification) and the power of the Holy Ghost. Everybody must pray. The sinner must pray for forgiveness of sin; a child of God must pray for all-round victory and for others.
Further Reading: Genesis 32:24-28
Prayer for today: Dear Lord, please give me the desire to pray.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
