I would like to read you a quote by a man named John Charles Riley he was an English Evangelical preacher and writer backsliding generally first begins with neglect of private prayer and to paraphrase his words he then goes on to tell us how we cannot study and understand the Bible without prayer we cannot enter or sustain a marriage without prayer we should not take Journeys without prayer or form friendships without prayer the Bible encourages us to devote ourselves to prayer to devote yourself is to commit yourself it's to to give over to remain steadfast in
prayer well then inadvertently this means that you should stay away from everything that will affect your prayer life negatively Psalm 17:6 says I call on you my God for you will answer me turn your ear to me and hear my prayer I'm encouraged by this verse in the Psalms because the psalmist presents the full Dynamic relationship when a person with faith reaches out to God the verse says I call on you my God for you will answer me now take note he didn't say and you will answer me but rather he said for you will
answer me by saying for you will answer me the psalmist is telling us that he is praying with the expectation that God will answer his prayer he is praying with the faith that God will turn his ear and hear his prayer oh how we need to put this into practice in our own lives how we need to pray with faith how we need to pray with the expectation that God will answer us the Amplified translation of Romans 12:12 says constantly rejoicing in Hope because of our confidence in Christ steadfast and patient in distress devoted to
prayer continually seeking wisdom guidance and strength listen you and I we are to be constant in prayer we are to pray at all times and to pray without ceasing dear friend we're called to pray persistently and I want you to understand that persistence when it comes to prayer it's not just an option it's a commandment from God himself Jesus always instructed us to pray and never to lose heart because prayer is the lifeline of a Believer and now you have to understand the difference between praying persistently and having a long prayer session when you are
persistent in prayer you may not necessarily pray for a long time but you don't give up on God you do not stop believing and praying that's persistence it means not giving up it means you are consistent and you are Relentless now let me tell you some days you might just feel like giving up some days The Joy might go your energy may be low your feelings may fade away but let me tell you the thing you should never do never give up I need you to always remember that it's the Lord's commandment to keep praying
without ceasing and if you do in due season you'll be rewarded it's important that you have a passion for prayer because as a Believer you're not wrestling against flesh and blood but against principalities seated in high places but listen we are protected by the Lord when we cover ourselves in prayer when you talk to God your relationship with him gets deeper day by day so I encourage you I'll go a step further I challenge you even to make prayer your passion make it your lifestyle make prayer a daily practice let's go to the throne of
God together father God you are worthy to be honored and praised your word in Matthew 26: 41 it says watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak Holy Spirit teach us to pray teach us to pray so that we will not fall into temptation even though our flesh is weak strengthen us Empower us to fight and pray Holy Spirit put within me a hunger and thirst to seek after God's presence give me the right attitude put a fire within my soul to be persistent
in prayer as I seek the presence of the Lord Lord we do desire your presence we are praying and seeking your presence I pray that the Holy Spirit would teach us the importance of prayer I pray that the Holy Spirit would teach us to be diligent in prayer Psalm 16:1 says you make known to me the path of life in your presence there is fullness of joy at your right hand are Pleasures forever more more Lord I want to experience that I want to experience the fullness of joy that's in your presence the psalmist said
at your right hand are Pleasures forever more father that's what I desire not the fleeting pleasures of this world but only what you have in store for me I understand that to be a joyful Christian is to know God's presence may your presence be so heavy on me and so heavy around me that even unbelievers will be able to see the supernatural Joy which is upon my life and it'll be all because of you father I seek your presence because in it there is safety Psalm 31:20 says you shall hide them in the secret place
of your presence from the plots of man you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from The Strife of tongues father Keep Us hidden in the secret place of your presence your presence protects us from every evil plot it Shields us from all negative words spoken against us there is power in your presence almighty God and we Des desire that power to be upon our lives so my prayer today is that you may hide me in the secret place of your presence where no evil can approach but I am blessed to be in fellowship with
you Holy Spirit keep ever before me the importance of persistent prayer keep ever before me the faith that I should have wrapped up in my prayers Holy Spirit when I go to the throne of God remind me not to just Babble but to speak to God and expect him to hear me and to answer create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a steadfast Spirit Within Me Lord thank you for the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus the blood which purifies me from all sin and from all unrighteousness thank you that through
him I have access to your wonderful presence you alone Are Holy and you're worthy to be praised thank you Lord that through the blood of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I can now approach your throne with boldness and with confidence father I bless your holy name and I'm also grateful that through the Holy Ghost you make your presence available to me anytime and anywhere may your name forever be lifted high and be glorified father I thank you for hearing this prayer it's in the mighty name of Jesus Christ that we pray amen I call
on you my God for you will answer me turn your ear to me and hear my [Music] prayer constantly rejoicing in Hope because of our confidence in Christ steadfast and patient in distress devoted to pray prayer continually seeking wisdom guidance and strength it says watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak you make known to me the path of life in your presence there is fullness of joy at your right hand are Pleasures forever more you shall hide them in the secret place of
your presence from the plots of man you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from The Strife of tongues
