The primary habit every believer has to cultivate is prayer. This is how we communicate with our heavenly Father. Jesus Himself modeled a lifestyle of prayer, praying continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), even while He hung on the cross, headed towards death (Luke 23:34). He also taught believers how to pray. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus prays: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” 

Our relationship with the Father is not one-sided, where He does all the speaking. On the contrary, God is interested in what we have to say and is eager to listen to us. Even though He is omniscient, He enjoys our company and cherishes the moments we set apart just for Him, during which we can sincerely let go of all our burdens without the fear of judgment. God promises to reward us with grace and forgiveness, provision for our needs, His joy, peace, strength, and most importantly His presence every time that we reach out to Him. Jesus says in Matthew 6:6, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Prayer, however, should never be confused with wishful thinking, as our God is not a wish-granting genie trapped in a lamp. As christians, we ought to pray according to the Word, led by the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus, our prayers should aim at bringing God’s kingdom on earth and asking for His will to be done as it is in heaven. So if you are tempted to pray about winning the lotto jackpot or for revenge over your enemies, take a pause and meditate on the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6, then ask the Holy Spirit to inspire you with prayers that truly bring glory to God.

Prayer points for today   

• Pray that you will live a life of prayer, and understand the purpose and value of talking to God daily. Ask God to make your home a house of prayer in which He dwells forever.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will remind and teach you how to pray in every battle of life. 
• Ask God to pour into your heart the spirit of prayer and intercession in every season. 
• God should remove any spirit or thought within you that makes you feel reluctant or forget to pray. Ask the Lord to forgive you if you have neglected prayer for a long time.
• Lastly, if you have any request, this is the hour to petition before God. Do so in faith, according to John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” Amen!

May God in His faithfulness and mercy inclined His ear towards you and grant answers to your petitions. Thank you for completing this day with us. God bless you.