Daily Word

Praying always . . . —Ephesians 6:18

If Paul were writing today, he would probably write, “At least pray sometimes.” It is a fact that most of the body of Christ does not have a consistent, organized prayer time! The day of entertainment and distraction has set in. Live streams, podcasts, TV programs, video games, sports, iPhones and Androids, working multiple jobs—all have left us with no time to do what we were created to do: fellowship with God in prayer. You may have heard sermons on prayer, have books or CDs on prayer, and know in your heart that prayer would help your life—but if you do not take the time to pray, you will get no results. You cannot pray twenty minutes a week, then worry the rest of the time—and grow up spiritually. If you are not praying, you are missing out. Grumbling? Complaining? Critical? All the result of a lack of prayer. Become a pray-er today and watch your life change.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer . . . —Philippians 4:6

God gives us a choice in this life: to worry, be troubled, be distressed, or to pray! He says to worry about nothing! Why? You have a prayer connection with God. You have been given the ability to go to God—“in every thing by prayer.” How can you tell if someone is truly acting as the house of God or if they are committed to prayer? They very seldom worry about things. If you find yourself worried about things, your answer is prayer. Trouble in your marriage, worried about children, lack of money, attacked with symptoms? Pray! Get God involved in your situations and circumstances. You’ve tried it without prayer—how did it go? Pray in everything concerning you and get worry out of your life. Ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find; knock and doors will open—through prayer.

My house shall be called the house of prayer. —Matthew 21:13

We have discovered that we are the House of God, God’s dwelling place. Notice that Jesus gave the house a name or a title. He called it “the house of prayer.” Many churches are built on gimmicks, on buildings, on social events, on children’s ministries. But a true house of God is a house of prayer! A praying church is only made up of praying members. True members of a church not only attend, tithe, and support—but they pray. Prayer, or communication with God, is what you were created for! If you are not a pray-er, one who consistently, daily, spends quality time with God, you are failing to fulfill your purpose in God. Set aside a time starting today—even if it’s only fifteen minutes—and spend time talking and listening to God. In a matter of weeks, it will change your life!

Read Ephesians 3:14–21.

. . . [He] is able to do . . . above all that we ask or think. —Ephesians 3:20

Notice—God’s power in us, and even God’s ability, is limited to our thoughts and our asking. To think of yourself as weak, helpless, or powerless will cut you off from almighty God’s power in you. Many ask, “Why doesn’t God do this? Why doesn’t God do that?” If you can think it and ask it, the power in you is more than enough to bring it to pass! Little thinking and little asking has left the Church with little power and little God-activity. Let the Word of God expand your thought life; allow it to develop a prayer life in you to think and ask big things. God is not holding back on you; you are thinking your way out of all He wants you to have! Turn off the radio, shut down the TV, and let the Word become a reality to you by meditating on it and speaking it in prayer. All things are possible for you! He desires that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers (3 John 2). You will never outthink the ability and power that is in you. It is exceedingly great power, and it is given to you!