Remember to Pray!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 14, 2023 | Matthew 14:22-24

KEY VERSE:

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, . . . Matthew 14:23 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Prayer is essential for Kingdom living while we pass through the valley of life on earth. Jesus Christ as God was prayed unto by the needy people who flocked to Him. But He as Man called upon the Father in prayer, to meet His needs. He had come to this solitary place to wait on the Father in prayer and had received the interruption of the people who came to Him. After He had finished healing and attending to their needs by feeding them, He sent them away and dispatched His disciples. Then He returned to the main business for which He had retreated, to pray.

Our personal secret time with God is key to our power in physical and spiritual matters. The busy flow of life and the many interferences sometimes take us away from our scheduled times of aloneness with God. A nursing mother must attend to the needs of a baby, a work assignment may move us out of our place of prayer, or an “important” phone call may come through just when we are about to pray. When we have attended to these necessary interferences, let us remember to spend time alone with God in prayer.

We may help ourselves by physically moving away from the things that may interfere with our set prayer times. We may do well to put our phones on silent mode during times allotted for private (and corporate) prayer. Once again, we do acknowledge that there are situations where the nature of our engagements and operations does not allow us to have the leisure of physical self-removal for our times with God alone. In those instances, let us develop the spiritual discipline of “practising the presence of God.” This means being strongly conscious of the presence of God always so that amid our busy engagement we can still communicate with God. Let us learn to tune our spirit to God, to be in quiet prayer while processing documents, driving on a long journey, or sitting by the bedside of a patient who needs our regular care. Let us shut the door of unnecessary conversations, turn off the television, and turn on the “Heaven-vision.”

Whatever happens, REMEMBER TO PRAY!

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Are you spending time alone with God? What are the interferences you have in your desire and intention to pray? What can you do to pray no matter what?

PRAYER:

Lord, how much I need to run to you, and stay in your presence. Oh, how much I’m distracted by so many interferences. I pray that you help me to cultivate the habit of praying, no matter what. Please give me the grace to desire to be alone with you, and may I see this as part of my daily experience. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!