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WHAT DO RELATIONSHIPS AND PRAYER HAVE IN COMMON?

  • Writer: Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
    Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
  • Aug 16, 2023
  • 3 min read

Today’s Readings:

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

Psalm 146:2,5-9

Matthew 5:43-48



Prayer is the most profound relationship you can ever have. In fact, good and effective prayer nourishes every relationship. There are at least seven pillars of effective prayer which translate to the pillars of a great relationship:

  • AWARENESS – You are speaking to God, the One without whom nothing exists. It is for Him that we were made. The awareness of God’s awesomeness needs to be established before we move on to other matters. In the same way, you must first acknowledge and be aware of the dignity of the person you are in relationship with (a parent, sibling, friend, colleague or stranger). They possess a dignity that is priceless and should be acknowledged and respected.

  • TRUST – My definition of trust is to presume that the other person desires your good and well-being, until proven otherwise. A lack of trust is the reason we get angry with God. The idea of distrusting God is absurd if we know who He is and how much He loves us (John 3:16: 1 John 4:19). When we find it hard to trust God who is almighty, it is not strange to see that we cannot trust one another.

  • KNEEL IN WORSHIP – The most profound gesture of worship is to kneel. It indicates humility, submission to divine will and readiness to learn. Humble yourself before God or situations will force you to. Let your first instinct in prayer be that of humility and God will lift you up. The same way too in your relationship. People will warm up to you if they believe that you are approachable and ready to learn.

  • SPEAK HONESTLY – Nothing builds a relationship faster than honesty. And nothing destroys it faster than dishonesty. God wants to know what is on your mind, exactly as it is on your mind. Prayer is a place to have a heart to heart with your Creator. Speak, smile, cry, express your frustration but do all these with an underlying string of trust.

  • WAIT ON THE LORD – I love that passage of Scripture that says, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; They shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). It is pretty difficult to wait when it seems like the world is passing you by. Waiting is a part of the order of things. Students study and wait to graduate. A pregnant woman must wait at least 9 months to be delivered of her baby. You have to wait for food to cook on the fire before eating it. We cannot break this protocol of waiting without consequences. Trust me when I say that waiting sometimes is better than useless activities. God will renew your strength as you wait if you trust Him.

  • HAVE A FORGIVING HEART – One of the most common reasons why our prayers are not answered is because we have refused to forgive those who wronged us. Forgiveness involves releasing ourselves and others to enjoy God’s blessings. When you close yourself up and tie others down owing to resentment, you are not opening the doors of your being to be filled with divine bounty. It is difficult to forgive, I must admit (especially when the offender is not remorseful). Your lack of forgiveness is not hurting them. It is hurting you instead. You deserve to be at peace and to enjoy God’s blessings, so let the other person go.

  • TESTIFY – When you receive what you have prayed for, let others know. Tell them that God is faithful. Let your thanksgiving be louder than your cries of anguish. Let your song of praise be louder than your tales of woe. In the same way, publish the goodness of others and minimize their fault (gossiping is not a virtue).

JUDE-MARY OWOH



Prayer:

  1. The Lord reigns, let the people tremble; he sits between the cherubim; let the earth be moved.

  2. The Lord is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.

  3. Lord, thank you for your goodness and mercy.

  4. Grant that I may love you more and more each day and love my neighbour as myself.

  5. Father, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be accepted in Your sight, in Jesus name.

  6. Lord visit Christian homes with your love and mercy, in Jesus name.

  7. Father, grant the leaders in our nation the bold ness to do Your bidding, in Jesus name.

  8. Father, align our nation to Your plan at this season, in Jesus name. Amen.

 
 
 

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