DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: SEPTEMBER 14 RESULT ORIENTED PRAYER (2) SCRIPTURE: JAMES 4: 2 – 3; 2 CHRONICLES 15: 2; DEUTERONOMY 3: 25 – 26
There is no doubt that prayers do not at times attract expected answers from God. However, truth remains that God did answers prayers and still answers prayers. There could be many reasons why prayers fail to produce intended results. This has given some people chances of seeking to know kinds of prayers which will end in fruitful results. Yesterday’s devotional pointed out general basic things which make result oriented prayers possible. It was pointed out yesterday that, among many of the things which mar result oriented prayer, this devotional is looking at attitudes and motives in addition to things responsible for hindering result oriented prayers. Attitudes and motives which are at variant from God’s prescribed ones produce unanswered prayers.
As seen from James 4: 2 – 3 yesterday, praying amiss wrong motives hinders answers to prayers. For instance, when one praying for the person seeking the prayers puts money forward before praying, good results will be hampered. Jesus said that freely we received and freely we should give out. How can God answer a prayer that is highly priced? Some deliverance Ministers charge prayer seekers a huge amount of money before praying. This is wrong motive. Followed by this attitude. Many Christians have developed an attitude of forsaking God. We all appear before God with our hearts and mind far away from God. Failure to seek God with faithful hearts and minds has made God turning away from us. The Bible says: “Listen, all people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with Him. Whenever you seek Him you will find Him. But if you abandon Him He will abandon you” (2 Chro. 15: 2 Africa Study Bible).
Another attitude that hinders result oriented prayer is selfishness. Many people are, these days, getting too self-centered in prayers. Prayers for selves for prosperity, promotions, and businesses breakthroughs as well as for any enemy of ours to die have dominated prayers. This devotional feels these kinds of prayers offend God. Moses was said to lose entering into the Promised Land because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. However, reading from Deut. 3: 25 – 26 throws more light to why God refused him entering the Promised Land. He prayed more begging God to allow him cross over River Jordan to just see the Promised Land. God was angry with him and told him “enough of this…”We are living in the world where everybody seems praying only for themselves. How can our prayers be answered? Prayers were answered speedily during the early days of the Apostles due to how they prayed for everybody selflessly. Interceding in prayers for others shows how much we love them and this draws God’s love upon us. Few more reasons come up tomorrow.
PRAYER:
Almighty Father, kill wrong attitudes, motives and selfishness in my life and the lives of other Christians for result oriented prayers to be established in our days in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
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