We need the Holy Spirit to teach us about the importance of prayer.
We need the Holy Spirit to teach us how to be diligent in prayer. Matthew 26:41 says, "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
If you've ever wondered why it's so hard to pray, or why it's so difficult to be consistent in prayer, it's because the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Prayer is a spiritual matter, and the flesh does not like to engage in spiritual matters. This is precisely why the Holy Spirit is so vital in our lives.
Even though our flesh is weak, it's the Holy Spirit who will strengthen us. Even though our flesh is weak, it's the Holy Spirit who can empower us to fight and pray.
You see, God wants to win us from within. He wants to win our hearts.
And it's when we surrender our hearts to the Lord that we can truly be empowered to live a life of power.
We can truly be empowered to live a life of abundance in Christ.
The Bible in Ezekiel 36 26-27 says, "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Notice how God says, "I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh."
And then in verse 27, he says, "I will put my spirit within you."
When we yield to the Lord, when we surrender to the Holy Spirit, you will find that there will be a hunger deep within you to seek after God's presence.
And this hunger, this drive can only be birthed inside of you when you are led by the Holy Spirit.
Now, I find the book of Acts to be fascinating.
The believers in the book of Acts had wonderful encounters with the Lord, especially when they prayed.
Acts 1:14 says, "AlI these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers."
Notice what the Bible says. They in one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.
And then in Acts 6:3-4, the Bible reads, "Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them, and we will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
Notice once again what the Bible says.
They will give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.
We all need to be encouraged by such scriptures.
Prayer changes things.
Prayer gives you the strength to avoid temptation.
Prayer will open the door to the Lord's presence. Prayer attracts the presence of God and it opens the door for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer will develop our relationship with the Lord and cause us to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.
Prayer is a weapon to fight against the enemy.
And so I simply want to encourage you to pray. l encourage you to pray for your family and pray with your family. Pray for unity within the home. All in all, devote yourself to prayer.
It's all good and well having a nice home and material things. However, we need to ensure that we pay attention to what is going on inwardly, spiritually, and it's prayer that helps you to do this. So, don't ever underestimate the importance of prayer.
Your prayer life matters. Your prayer life is important.
Your prayer life should not be treated casually. But there is something you should know.
When you pray and as you pray, always remember that your number one prayer request should be for the presence of God to be with you.
As you pray, always remember that above all else, the power and strength for a believer comes when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Consider what the Bible says in Acts 4:31.
After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Note the sequence of events. They prayed and after they prayed, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
And what was the result of them being filled by the Holy Spirit?
The result was that they spoke the word of God boldly. The result was that they began to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.
This should be our aim. This should be our desire to pray until we are filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can speak the word of God boldly.
Furthermore, Acts 4:13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished, and they recognized that they had been with Jesus."
The last line in this verse says, "And they recognized that they had been with Jesus."
We ought to pray for the Lord's presence to be with us always.
When you are a person of prayer, when you are a believer of prayer, God's presence will be with you.
Moses was someone who realized how powerful and significant it is to have God's presence with him.
The Bible in Exodus 33:13-16 says, "Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in your sight, show me now your way that I may know you and that I may find grace in your sight. And consider that this nation is your people. "
And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you the rest."
Then he said to him, "If your presence does not go with us, do not bring us from here. For how then will it be know that your people and I have found grace in your sight, except you go with us?"
So we shall be separate, your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.
Moses would not go anywhere until he knew God's presence was with him. He knew that God's presence brings power.
God's presence brings peace. God's presence will set you apart. And so we too ought to pray and desperately seek God's presence to be evident in our lives, in our homes, and in our families.
One of the most comforting things you'll ever hear someone say is, "I'm praying for you." And if you really think about it, some of us are still being kept by the Lord because he is answering the prayers of our parents. Some of you have the favor of the Lord on your lives because of the prayers of your grandparents.
I recently read a testimony of a missionary man who left a successful business to go and serve the Lord and preach the gospel.
Before this man was saved, however, he was a person who used to sell drugs. He was violent. He had no real love for people.
However, when he got married, he spoke of how one night he woke up and saw his wife kneeling on the edge of the bed praying for him. For him to see that, he was convicted. He knew that his wife loved him greatly because she prayed for him.
I heard another preacher speak of how as a young man, he once heard his mother praying for him. He heard everything she said as she pleaded with the Lord on behalf of her son. And the man said, "Hearing my mother's prayers crushed me."
When apostle Paul was writing to the church at Colossae, sometimes called Colosse, he begins by saying, "Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints." And then he tells the church this in Colossians 1, verse 9. And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Apostle Paul is writing here to encourage the church by letting them know that he has not stopped praying for them. Think about what that does. It reminds you that you're not alone. You are not fighting the battle on your own.
And so, dear reader, I have two messages that I want to put across to you today.
The first is that each of us has someone or knows someone who is in need of prayer.
Someone in our lives, someone within our circle of influence. They need intercession.
They're facing a test, a challenge, a mountain, and they need to be encouraged. They need to be lifted up in prayer.
And if you think what I'm saying is not biblical, well, read Luke 22: verses 31 and 32.
And the Lord said,"Simon, Simon, indeed Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren."
Jesus himself told Simon, "I've prayed for you." Ask yourself why.
I believe it's because Jesus knew that the test or temptation that Simon was about to face, it was too great for him to do it without the help of intercession.
So in your life, take a moment and think who in your life can you lift up before the Lord in prayer.
The second message I have for you today is one of encouragement. Reach out for prayer if you're in need.
Ask the Lord to give you discernment and wisdom when it comes to the people who can stand with you in prayer.
Now, there is a great need all around the world concerning prayer. I would like to share a few prayer requests that we have recently received.
One person wrote in saying, "I have recently been selected for a position with a facility management company in Kuwait. Currently, l am in the phase of awaiting the issuance of my work visa permit and the finalization of the job contract. It is a crucial step in the process and I kindly request your prayers and support for the swift and successful completion of these matters.
Please pray for my family to grow in the word of God and be good testimony for Jesus. May my children walk in the right path to glorify Jesus. May they be delivered from all addictions and bad habits. May they be able to work and glorify Jesus. May my spouse be a good testimony.
And the last one, please help me pray to open the eyes of my children to the evil of those they are involved with and to bring them home to me. Thank you.
Now these are just a few emails.
But as I am sure you are aware, many people out there are in need of prayer.
But for the next few moments, I would like to lift you up in prayer. Dear reader, although we've never met, we've never spoken. although I do not know your name and I don't know your exact need. I pray that the Holy Spirit would lead me in the next few moments as I intercede on your behalf believing that God will meet you at your point of need whatever it may be.
Dear Lord, for the person reading and believing, I pray Number 6: verses 24- 26 over their lives. And I say, "the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
Indeed, Master, may your face shine upon the person reading right now. May you fill their hearts with peace.
And even as I pray in this moment, Lord Jesus, I trust and believe that you know the need in each person's life. You know the longing in their hearts.
For those who are waiting for a breakthrough, may your will be done in their lives, King Jesus.
For those who are believing and waiting for healing. Lord Jesus, we trust that you can and will intervene.
For those who are praying for their families, for their children. Dear Master, we look to you for restoration, for forgiveness, for love and healing.
Dear Master, the Bible in Psalm 23:6, it says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
May your goodness and mercy follow us each and every day.
Together with every person reading right now, we declare that it is our desire to serve you, King Jesus. We believe in you. We hold on to you. We depend on you and we rely on you.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord, our God.
Father, there are those who are reading right now and they are seeking love and unity in their homes.
May you flood their lives with more of you, God, because you alone are the One who can bring love into the hearts of man.
Lord, there are those who are seeking healing because their families are broken right now. There is unforgiveness in their homes and there is strife in their homes. And so God, I pray right now that in this very moment as we invite the presence of Jesus Christ, I pray that healing will begin to take place within that broken home. Heal every scar. Heal every unkind act, every negative word. God, bring your healing.
Bring healing into our lives and unify every home and every family that is listening.
As I pray in agreement today with everyone praying , we ask for freedom.
God, we need freedom from any strongholds, any chains that seek to hold us back or hold us down. Freedom from past sins, past mistakes. Father, we ask that you set us free. In your word in Isaiah 43:18, you say, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old."
Help us, Lord. Help the Father, help us to look forward to you doing a new thing in our lives.
We need divine intervention to help us let go of old habits, old patterns, old disappointments that may limit our belief in You. And right now, in agreement with every heart that's reading, help us to release the past and let go of the pain and the anger that destroys.
Anyone who has hurt us in the past Lord, help us to forgive them. Anyone who's disappointed or betrayed us, help us forgive.
Holy Spirit, help us not to condemn.
Any experience that we've had that may have been traumatic.
Father, help us to let it go.
And God, I pray for the one who was mistreated.
I pray for the one who suffered heartbreak.
I pray for the one who suffered loss.
Father, let your love, your compassion, let it overwhelm them, Lord.
May they find healing in your arms. May they find wholeness in your presence. And above all, may they find the strength to let go and move on from that past.
Lord God, only you can fully repair our hearts. only you can repair our minds and our souls.
So as we reach out in prayer, we put our hopes and our dreams, our plans and our relationships, God, we put them in your hands. With you by our side, the past will not hold us down. It will not hold us back.
Right now, God, we confess our sins and we know that our sins are forgiven and they are put away.
Lord God, be praised and be honored. Be glorified.
We thank you for hearing this prayer, my King, in Jesus Christ's name.
Amen.
To the one who is reading. Help them to forget the former things. Give them the grace not to dwell on the past, but to look forward. Father, help us to look forward to you doing a new thing in our lives.
We need divine intervention to help us let go of old habits, old patterns, old disappointments that may limit our belief in You. And right now, in agreement with every heart that's reading, help us to release the past and let go of the pain and the anger that destroys.
Anyone who has hurt us in the past Lord, help us to forgive them. Anyone who's disappointed or betrayed us, help us forgive.
Holy Spirit, help us not to condemn.
Any experience that we've had that may have been traumatic.
Father, help us to let it go.
And God, I pray for the one who was mistreated.
I pray for the one who suffered heartbreak.
I pray for the one who suffered loss.
Father, let your love, your compassion, let it overwhelm them, Lord.
May they find healing in your arms. May they find wholeness in your presence. And above all, may they find the strength to let go and move on from that past.
Lord God, only you can fully repair our hearts. only you can repair our minds and our souls.
So as we reach out in prayer, we put our hopes and our dreams, our plans and our relationships, God, we put them in your hands. With you by our side, the past will not hold us down. It will not hold us back.
Right now, God, we confess our sins and we know that our sins are forgiven and they are put away.
Lord God, be praised and be honored. Be glorified.
We thank you for hearing this prayer, my King, in Jesus Christ's name.
Amen.
What if I told you that there are instances in the Bible where people's prayers literally shook hell itself?
Daniel's prayer led to hell releasing the prince of Persia in an attempt to block his answer. In the New Testament, the church's prayer that released Peter from prison. And most notably, Jesus's prayer that defeated death itself. You see, there are prayers that comfort.
There are prayers that inspire. And then there are prayers that make hell tremble. Hell trembles when a believer discovers that prayer is not just a casual thing that Christians do. It's a weapon. Hell trembles when a child of God realizes that prayer is not begging.
It's calling on heavenly intervention.
Hell trembles when the weakest saint gets on their knees and calls on the strongest name in the universe, the name of Jesus.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, 20:16 against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
This tells us that prayer can be a confrontation between light and darkness. When you pray in faith, you are declaring war on the enemy's plans.
Let's take a deeper look at three prayers that shook the kingdom of darkness and proved that when God's people pray, hell cannot stand.
The first prayer, Daniel's prayer that broke the prince of Persia. Daniel was a man of prayer. He prayed three times a day, no matter the cost.
But in Daniel chapter 10, we see a moment of intense spiritual warfare. He was fasting and praying for twenty-one (21) days seeking understanding from God. But heaven seemed silent. No answer came.
Then suddenly an angel appeared and said in Daniel 10:12-13, "from the first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God. Your words were heard and I have come because of your words. But the prince ot the kingdom ot Persia withstood me twenty-one (21) days.
Pause and think about that. Daniel's prayer was heard on day one, but the answer was delayed by a spiritual battle in the unseen realm. Hell was resisting the answer. But Daniel didn't stop praying. That is what makes hell tremble.
Persistent prayer. The kind of prayer that doesn't quit when heaven is silent.
The kind of prayer that refuses to give up even when nothing seems to change.
When you keep praying in faith, even while waiting, you are pushing back darkness in the spiritual world. The devil can delay your answer, but he cannot deny your breakthrough when you stay on your knees. Hell fears the believer who prays until the answer comes.
The second prayer, the church's prayer that released Peter from prison.
Acts chapter 12 paints a dark picture. King Herod had already killed James, one of the apostles, and now he had Peter arrested, planning to execute him next.
The church had no weapons, no power, no influence, but they had prayer. Verse 5 says, "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." Constant prayer, not casual prayer. They didn't just pray once and move on. They pressed in. And in verse 7, heaven responded.
Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the prison.
And he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly."
And his chains fell off his hands. The angel walked Peter right out of that heavily guarded prison. Hell trembles when believers pray together, united, relentless, and full of faith. Notice this. While the church prayed on earth, angels moved in the spirit. That's what happens when we pray. Our words invite heaven's armies to intervene in human affairs.
Every time a praying church gathers, hell loses ground. Every time a believer prays in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, demons scatter. Every time the church bends its knees, the enemy's plans begin to crumble. When the church prays, prisons open, chains break, and captives are set free.
The third prayer, Jesus's prayer that defeated death. The greatest prayer ever prayed, the one that made all of hell tremble, was prayed in a garden called Gethsemane.
He walked away about a stoned throw and knelt down. And Luke 22:41-44 says, "Father, if you're willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."
Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
And as he prayed, the Bible says his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. In that moment, the weight of the world's sin pressed upon him. The devil poured out his full fury, trying to crush the Savior's resolve. But Jesus prayed through the agony. He prayed until the victory was sealed. That one prayer, "not my will, but yours be done," shook the foundations of hell.
It disarmed Satan's authority. It stripped death of its sting. It secured redemption for every soul who would believe.
Lesson: The prayers that make hell tremble, are not just loud prayers. They are surrendered prayers. The devil trembles when a believer says, "Not my will, but yours be done." to God.
Because that is the moment God loses His power over your life. When you submit to God in prayer, you stand in unstoppable strength.
So what kind of prayers shake hell? From Daniel, we learn the power of persistent prayer. From the early church, we learn the power of united prayer where two or more are gathered, all calling on the name of the Lord. From Jesus, we learn the power of surrendered prayer. Prayer that says,"God, have your way, not mine."
When these three forces combine, hell shutters.
James 5:16 says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Fervent prayer, not mechanical prayer. Passionate prayer, not polite prayer. Prayer that carries fire, faith, and focus.
Every time you pray with that kind of power, something shifts. The enemy loses ground. Heaven gained territory. Hell trembles when you pray, not because of who you are, but because of whose name you pray in.
The name of Jesus Christ carries authority that demons cannot resist, that darkness cannot withstand, that death cannot overcome.
When Daniel prayed, angels were dispatched. When the church prayed, prisons opened. When Jesus prayed, salvation was secured forever.
So don't let the devil silence your voice. Don't let discouragement stop your intercession. Don't let delay weaken your persistence.
Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep standing.
When the presence of the Holy Spirit is in your home, you will find that there is a yearning and a drawing towards God through prayer.
As individuals, we are often blinded to the dangers of prayerlessness.
Praying is not easy. Praying should not be casual. It's spiritual warfare.
However, a prayerless Christian is completely powerless because there is no relationship with the God.
Have you ever noticed that when you need the Lord to intervene in your life, when you need a miracle or a breakthrough, no one has to tell you that you need to pray, no one has to tell you that you need to have a prayer life.
Often times when we're in need, there is an intensity about our prayers. However, the difficulty we all face is that once our personal needs are met, once the battle has been won, once the breakthrough has come, the fire that was once in our prayers, it seems to fizzle out. And we need to be aware of this, we need to guard against this.
Now, I understand that in life there will be days where you find that you can easily capture the spirit of prayer.
You can pray effortlessly. You can pray and feel as though an hour is just ten minutes. However, you will also encounter days when prayer will be nothing other than a fight.
And it is when you encounter those moments that you should push through. Praying is fighting.
You have to fight to pray. And on the days where you struggle, I want to encourage you to be resilient and remember that the size of your prayer must match the size of your opposition.
And your opposition is the devil. Your opposition can be found in Ephesians 6:12 where the Bible reads, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
All of us should know that we're fighting the kingdom of darkness. The enemy will try to infiltrate our homes.
He will try to cause division in the family and in the church if we become prayerless Christians.
The second sign that the presence of the Holy Spirit is in your home is peace and strength.
Now let me ask you, how do you find peace and joy in a world filled with struggle?
How do you find peace and joy in a world where many people's daily lives can be marred by conflict and turmoil?
Some people go to work on a daily basis and have to deal with or work in a hostile atmosphere.
Others are burdened with problems, family problems, financial problems. Every home has its own set of challenges.
So, how do we find peace even in the midst of these problems?
The Holy Spirit is our helper. I like what the amplified translation of John 16:7 says, "But I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the helper, comforter, advocate, intercessor, counselor, strengthener, standby will not come to you. But if l go, I will send him the Holy Spirit to you to be in close fellowship with you." When you are feeling powerless, the Holy Spirit will help you. When you are low and feeling tired, the Holy Spirit will help you.
When you feel too weak to pray, the Holy Spirit will help you. When you have the Holy Spirit in your life, you will find him to be a helper, just as the Bible says. It doesn't mean that life will be easy, and it certainly doesn't mean that your Christian life will be easy.
But it does mean that in those difficult and tough moments, you have divine help. You have help from above. You have the Holy Spirit. Do you know how much of a blessing peace is? Peace of mind, peace in your heart, peace within your home.
At one point or another, we will face troubles, storms, and challenges that are bigger than us. We will have to find answers that are beyond our reach. And sometimes if we try and do things alone, this can leave us devastated, traumatized, and scarred.
So we need the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness. We need the Holy Spirit to comfort us and give us peace within our hearts, minds, and our homes. And he does this because he ushers in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, into every area of our lives.
Furthermore, another sign that the Holy Spirit has entered your life and his presence is in your home can be found in Romans 15:13.
The Bible reads, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
The power of the Holy Spirit helps us to have hope.
In this world, there are so many things that can leave you discouraged.
So many things come in life and they threaten to kill your joy. However, the power of the Holy Spirit will be our source of hope.
If you go to some countries where Christians are persecuted or where Christianity is frowned upon or punished, if you were to go to those places and speak with some of the Christians there, you will find that they are often people who are filled with unexplainable joy.
That joy is the evidence of the Holy Spirit working within their lives. It's the kind of joy that does not concern itself with present circumstances, but rather on God's word and on Jesus Christ. You see, joy is the absolute assurance, the conviction and belief that God Almighty is sovereign, meaning that he alone is in control. He controls every fine detail concerning my life.
He's in control when I am on top of the mountain and he's still in control when I am walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Joy can be described as a quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be al right.
It is going to be all right because ultimately everything is in God's hands.
And so with this assurance, with this confidence, knowing that God is in the driver's seat, it's this belief that leads us to be joyful in all situations and praise God always.
The fourth sign that the Holy Spirit is in your life and home is that he leads you to do God's will. He encourages you to do the will of the Lord. If you have a visitor in the home, you will find that there is a wonderful atmosphere to share the gospel and lead others to Christ.
In the book of Acts, there is a great passage of scripture that demonstrates just how the Holy Spirit can work to help us lead others to the Lord.
Acts 8:26-31 says, "As for Philillip, an angel of the Lord said to him, go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza. So he started out and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philillip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked,"Do you understand what you are reading?" The man replied, "How can I unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philillip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
Notice that in verse 29, the Bible says, "And the spirit said to Philillip, go over and walk along beside the carriage."
The Holy Spirit led Philillip to explain the gospel of Jesus Christ to this Ethiopian eunuch.
Acts 8:35-39 , the Bible says so beginning with this same scripture Philip told him the good news about Jesus, as they rode along they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "Look there's some water. Can't I be baptized, he ordered the carriage to stop and they went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.
The Holy Spirit led Philip to minister about the gospel of Jesus Christ to someone who was ready to be saved. And you and I can be, in fact, we should seek to be led by the Holy Spirit in this same way.
The Holy Spirit can lead you to pray for a family member or a friend without them ever having told you that they are going through something.
The Holy Spirit can lead you to pick up the phone and offer someone a word of encouragement when they are in a dark place. And so we need to be sensitive to his voice.
Psalm 119 : 11 says, "Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you."
Now I want to demonstrate to you the power of praying God's word.
The Bible tells us in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God."
The word of God has been there from the beginning of time as we know it. And the Bible is very clear.
The word was with God and the word was God. And so this perfectly explains why. Hebrews 4:12 says,"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So let's look at why we need to take the word of God seriously in every aspect of our lives. The characteristics of the word of God is that it is living. It has life. It brings life.
And in reference to John 1 verse one, the word was with God and the word was God. And we all know that God is the giver of life.
God is the source of life, the source of eternal life.
Therefore, his word is living.
The word of God is powerful because God is all powerful.
And aside from the characteristics stated in Hebrews 4:12, there are other profound descriptions about the word of God in other parts of the Bible.
In Jeremiah 23 : 29, the Bible reads, "Is not my word like a fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"
These are symbolic descriptions as God likens his word to fire and a hammer.
But why fire? Why liken his word to a fire? I believe that this is because fire destroys impurities. Refining with flame is one of the oldest methods of purifying metals. And just like the metal that can be purified through fire, our hearts, our souls, our impurities are refined through the word of God.
That's why God likens his word to fire.
And when you look at a hammer and you look at the word of God being described as being like a hammer, you have to understand that the same hammer that destroys can also build or strengthen and reinforce.
The word of God is like a hammer that destroys evil. It crushes a person's unholy conscience. And here is how it helps to build and strengthen a believer.
Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to your word."
So the word of God is like a hammer that strengthens a believer to cleanse his way.
Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
So the word of God is like a hammer that helps to build faith. Another characteristic about the word of God is that it is like a mirror.
James 1 : 23 says, "For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror."
The word of God is like a mirror. And what does a mirror do? It allows one to see their blemishes and imperfections.
The word of God shows us the true reflection of what we are to aspire to in terms of being Christ-like. And therefore, we can see ourselves and see where we fall short in comparison to his word.
For example, when I place the word of God up as a mirror and read Hebrews 12:14. which says. "Pursue peace with all people and holiness without which no one will see the Lord."
So when I look at myself through the reflection of the word of God, I notice a blemish of ankkger, meaning that I have to change myself and live0 according to the word of God, which tells me to pursue peace.
Furthermore, the word of God is like a lamp. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp, and a light to my path."
A lamp aids your sight and vision. It helps you to see things clearly and not to stumble and fall.
Without a lamp that provides light, then you would be walking in darkness.
And so without the word of God, which is the lamp to the feet of a believer and a light to their pat l without the word of God, we would be walking in complete total darkness.
Hence why we need to carry the light in our hearts, souls, and minds.
Now in Ephesians 5 : 25- 26 it says, husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.
I want to pay particular attention to the method of sanctification and cleansing because the Bible says with the washing of water by the word and this is the point. The word of God cleanses, it washes away all sin, all unrighteousness.
Now, one of the most interesting passages in scripture that I've ever come across is Matthew 4:4.
It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
Now remember that at the beginning of this teaching, we read that in the beginning was the word, and the word was not only with God, but was God. And so we are told that for man to live by bread alone, it's not enough. And it is not enough because man needs every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The word of God is food that nourishes. It provides pure milk for babes.
As 1 Peter 2:2 says, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow."
So I hope you understand how complete and powerful the word of God is. In his word, you can find life, eternal life.
Like fire, his word can refine you of all impurities. The word of God is like a hammer that destroys evil and builds and strengthens a godly character in your life. The word of God is like a mirror. It exposes our blemishes against the word of God.
The word of God is a lamp and a light that guides us and gives us direction in life. The word of God cleanses. It can wash over your life and help you to renew old sinful mindsets. And finally, the word of God provides nourishment.
Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God.
Let's be encouraged to take the word of the Lord more seriously and apply it to our own life so that we may have direction, nourishment, purity, and clarity day by day in our walk with Christ.
If you study the life of Jesus, one thing becomes crystal clear.
Prayer was not optional for him. It was essential.
Mark 1:35 gives us a powerful glimpse of his prayer life. It says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed."
Think about that.
The Son of God, the one who walked on water, healed the sick, cast out demons, and spoke with authority, still felt the need to rise early and pray.
If Jesus, the sinless Son of God, needed early morning prayer, how much more do we?
Today, I want to speak on the importance of praying early like Jesus did. I want us to see three reasons why praying early matters so much.
Reason number one, early prayer sets the direction of the day.
When Jesus rose early to pray, he was not just filling a religious duty. He was setting the course of his day.
Psalm 5:3 says, "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my requests before you and I wait expectantly.
The first voice you hear in the morning will often shape your whole day. If the first voice is social media, your day will be filled with distraction.
If the first voice is the news, your day will be filled with worry. But if the first voice is the voice of God, your day will be filled with peace, direction, and power.
Jesus prayed early because he wanted to walk in step with the Father all day long.And when we pray early, we hand the pen of our day to God and say,
"Lord, you write the story. You lead me."
Reason number two, early prayer protects against the pressures of life.
Why do you think Jesus prayed before the sun rose? Because as soon as the sun came up, the demands began. Crowds gathered, needs pressed in. People cried for his attention.
Mark 1 shows that right after his early prayer time, the disciples came to him saying, "Everyone is looking for you."
Doesn't that sound like your life? The phone rings, the emails start, the children need attention, the deadlines shout.
If we wait until the day takes over, prayer gets squeezed out.
That's why Jesus prayed early to guard his time with the Father before the world could take it away.
Psalm 63:1 says, "Oh God, you are my God. Early will I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Morning prayer is like filling your spiritual tank before the journey begins. If you wait until the middle of the day, you may already be running on empty.
Reason number three, early prayer gives power for spiritual battles.
Jesus knew that every day brought battles, temptations, accusations, and spiritual warfare. He never faced a day without first receiving strength from his Father.
Luke 22: verses 39 to 40 says that even before going to the cross, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray as was his custom.
Prayer was his preparation for battle.
Frienas, the devil does not wait until noon to attack you. He strikes the moment you wake up with fear, with discouragement, with temptation, with distraction.
That's why morning prayer is so vital.
It equips you with armor before the fight begins.
Ephesians 6:1 says, "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."
Early prayer is where you put that armor on. Now, why should we adopt this approach?
Why we must pray early like Jesus did?
Because if Jesus needed to rise early and pray, then so do we. Morning prayer sets the tone of the day.
Morning prayer guards us from the pressures of life.
Morning prayer equips us for the battles we will face.
Yes, prayer at any time is powerful.
But there's something special about giving God the first portion of your day.
It's like tithing your time. In principle wise.
Commune your first tenth of each day with God first.
It says, "Lord, before I speak to anyone else, I speak to you. Before I face the world, I face you."
Mark 1:35 paints a picture we must never forget.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went to a solitary place where he prayed.
That's our model. That's our example. That's our call.
If Jesus prayed early, how much more should we?
So tomorrow morning when the alarm clock rings, don't just roll over. Rise up, find a quiet place.
Seek your Father and watch how your day, your heart, and your battles begin to change.
The importance of praying early is this.
It aligns you. It protects you. It empowers you.
And when you begin your day with God first, you can walk through the day with God.
Psalm 139:4 In-Context
Father God ,
² You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts.
³ You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.
⁴ Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.
⁵ You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.
⁶ Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.
Call on God First—Before You Call Anyone Else
There’s something sacred about mornings. Before the notifications, the news, and the noise—there’s a quiet space where heaven meets earth. In Jeremiah 29:12–13, God makes a personal promise:
“¹² Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Before you scroll, post, or message anyone—have you called on God today?
Many times we run to people for answers, affirmation, or peace—when the real power is in our knees. Calling on God first invites peace into chaos, light into confusion, and joy into despair. He desires to be your first conversation, not your last resort.
This blog post is your space to do exactly that: meet God before the world meets you. Today’s prayer is rooted in Jeremiah 29 and invites you to lay down your burdens, speak honestly to God, and expect to be heard.
📖 Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 29:12–13 (ESV)
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Response Required: Yes, Lord , I will call upon You and come and pray to You , first, and You will hear me. I will seek You first and find You , first, when I seek You first with all my heart.
🙏 Prayer Section
Heavenly Father,
I come to You this morning before anything else. Before the world speaks, I want to hear Your voice. Before I scroll, reply, or worry — I turn my heart to You. You are my first source, not my last option.
Thank You for the promise in Jeremiah 29:12–13, that when I seek You with all my heart, You will hear me. Lord, I am seeking. I’m calling. I need You.
Today, I surrender my schedule, my distractions, and my desires. Teach me to put You first. Not just with my words, but with my focus, my actions, and my time.
Let this prayer be a fresh beginning — a restart of my relationship with You. Cleanse my heart, reset my mind, and renew my soul.
I lay before You my worries, my decisions, my dreams, and my relationships. Speak, Lord — I am listening. I want to walk in Your will today. I want to be aligned with heaven’s purpose, not pressured by the world.
Cover me and those I love in Your peace. Let Your presence be my strength, and let today be marked by your grace, your purpose, and your divine direction.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
🪞 Reflection:
What do I usually turn to first in the morning?
What keeps me from calling on God first?
What might change if I made prayer my first habit every day?
💬 Encouragement:
Even if life feels dry or distant from God, you’re only one sincere prayer away from revival. God does not require perfection—just your heart.
