Dear Reader,
This week, the Lord has something new to add to what you already know about success in family. I will be sharing with you today on Prayer as one of the keys to spiritual growth.
To ensure family success, prayer cannot be ignored. It is one of the necessary ingredients for keeping God constantly involved in your affairs, communicating with Him and securing a protective cover over your homes.
Prayer, simply, is calling for divine help; it is a covenant tool for the realisation of your glorious destiny.You need to take your prayer life a bit more seriously than ever before. Allow your communication between you and God to be the stabilising factor the remaining months of this year and beyond. In good times, in hard times, in moments of anxiety and in periods of praise, you need to share this wonderful privilege of talking directly to your heavenly Father. What a concept! No appointment is needed to enter into His presence. You don’t have to go through His subordinates or bribe His secretaries. He is simply there, whenever you bow before Him.
On the other hand, prayer is fellowshipping with your heavenly Father, Who has promised to hear and answer your petitions. In this day of disintegrating families on every side, we dare not try to make it on our own. God’s Word says: And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims. …And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong (2 Chronicles 26:5, 7&15). Without the help of God, we are helpless.
Marriage offers you unity on a three-dimensional basis: spirit, soul and body. Only couples enjoy this level of unity and it enhances the success of their prayer lives. The Bible says: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19). Couples are more readily united on issues than any two friends are. So, whatever they desire in the home, marriage or children, when they pray in faith, God is compelled to grant their request. I believe strongly that the reason the devil brings disagreements and bitterness between couples is so that he can hinder their prayer lives and ensure that they remain on the same spot (1 Peter 3:7).
Nowhere else does the power of agreement work better than in marriage. It is a special privilege God has given couples to enable them to overcome obstacles, meet the demands of marriage and the running of the home.
It is impossible for me to overstate the need for prayer in the family life. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of marriage and family because it gives meaning and purpose to every dimension of living.
Prayer can change your negative situation to a positive one. Hannah prayed and her story was changed to a positive one (1 Samuel 1:9-17). Think about the man called Jabez; he prayed and God changed his story (1 Chronicles 4:10).
Look at this testimony:
“I got married in 2002, and since then I believed God for the fruit of the womb. I attended the great event, Mother of Nations during Shiloh 2003, where God’s servant, Bishop David Oyedepo, prayed for us and said we shouldn’t pray about it again, but expect our miracle babies. During the Covenant Day of Fruitfulness service in August 2004, the Bishop declared that we shall not be barren as covenant children of God, because not even our cattle is permitted to be barren.
While going out in the evening one day, I saw a hen with her chicks in front of me. This caught my attention, and I heard the Bishop’s voice saying, ‘Not even among your cattle’. I said, ‘This hen and her chicks are among my cattle, and they are not permitted to be barren. Why then should I be barren?’ This provoked something in me, and I could not proceed any further to where I was going. I went back home and prayed. I told the Lord, ‘If a hen is not permitted to be barren, then I must not be barren. I cannot be barren and I should not be barren’.
My faith came alive, and I knew within me that God must do something. So, I wiped away my tears. Heaven heard, and behold, in September 2004, God gave me my precious gift! I became pregnant and was delivered of a bouncing baby girl in June 2005. My turning point was delivered to me in our year of Turning Point. God, Who answered Hannah and removed her shame, proved Himself in my life.”
– Asein, B.
Are you faced with barrenness? Go to God in prayer and ask Him to fulfill His Word on fruitfulness in your life. Yours will be the next testimony!
In addition, I want you to know that until you are born again, you cannot approach God in prayer. But as you confess your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now, you will experience a great change in your life and marriage. Please say this simple prayer in faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom”.
Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name.
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