(Mark 4:19 KJV) The cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life,” by closing out the hurdles to answered prayer. Last Friday we looked at the fourth third hurdle, “Operating in hope instead of faith.” This morning we look at look at #5, which is also the last hurdle we will study; it is “Neglecting prayer altogether, either through sheer laziness, busyness, or distractions.” In this lesson I will address two major points:
1. You can’t get an answer to a prayer you never prayed.
2. You will not get an answer to a prayer you give up on.
First of all, you must understand the fact that you have to pray. You can print out and study this entire series, along with purchasing a library of books and CDs on prayer that you can read and listen to, but at the end of the day, the only way to truly develop in prayer is by actually praying. Just like you can’t get better at running without running, you can’t get better at praying without praying. Neglecting payer is neglecting the intimacy and power made available to you as a Born-Again believer, through the shed Blood of Jesus the Christ. Simply put, far too many believers allow laziness to keep them from praying. Those who refuse to maximize the opportunities given to them by the Father are called “wicked and lazy” servants (Mat 25:26). Don’t let this be said of you. Pray in the morning and then all day long. Pray every time you are led to and you will experience the intimacy you have often longed for, but never had.
Secondly, I have taught you in this series to pray in accordance with the Word. When you stand on the Word of God, through prayer, you are praying in faith and not just in hope. However, praying the prayer in-faith, and then waiting for the manifestation of it in-faith, are two different things. There is a space between, “Amen” and “There it is,” and in that space the enemy will attempt to get you to give up on your prayer. Don’t allow thorns – like the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the lusts for other things – to choke out the Word you are standing on. If you do, you will (without question) give up on your prayer and you will not see the manifestation of it.
It is far too easy, especially in today’s society, to be consumed with the cares of the world, with money matters, and with other desires. As believers we must keep first things first, keeping the main thing the main thing. Being too busy is the main reason believers give today for NOT PRAYING. But if you are too busy to pray, then you are simply too busy! Do all you can to keep your priorities in order.
So what does this mean to you today? Here are a few closing thoughts about the hindrances:
1. Choose the hurdle(s) that is keeping you from prayer and take actions to get over it (or them).
2. Set apart time daily to get into God’s Word and welcome the Father to speak to you.
3. After church (and Bible study), take a few minutes to mediate on what God wanted to say to you through the message (or lesson).
4. Determine to overcome busyness, laziness, and excuses! Decide to pray daily!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for blessing me to overcome every hindrance to prayer. I declare, right now, by faith, that I not only learn about prayer, I PRAY. I develop my prayer life daily and I put what I learn into practice. I put action behind what I receive and believe. I turn the corner from information to application. I fill my heart with Your Word and Your Word becomes the foundation for my life and living. I live each day in accordance with Your Word. I hide Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You! I have an eternal hope and I also operate in faith. Your Word gives substance to my hope and it enables me to Live By Faith daily. I overcome laziness and I refuse to allow the cares of this world to keep me from praying. I pray daily and the more I pray, the more I develop my prayer life, and the more I become like Jesus! In Jesus? name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
