🍞 Manna for Meditation 54

Dear God’s beloved Praying Priests, shalom!

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Adonai by ceasing to pray for you! Yet I will keep instructing you in the good and straight way.” (1Sa 12:23, TLV)

“Then He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping; and He tells Peter, ‘So couldn’t you keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Mat 26:40-41, TLV)

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.” (Col 4:2, TLV)

Prophet Samuel said that ceasing to pray for his people is to sin against God. Prayerlessness is a sin!  As the Praying Priests of BBPN, we receive the glorious calling to pray for the renewal and transformation of H2Z (From Mountains of Heaven to Mount Zion). Once we stop praying, we sin against God.

In order to keep a fervent, effective and devoting prayer life, we have to seriously face and overcome the sin of prayerlessness.   In Lord, Teach Us to Pray, there are three keys to conquer the sin of prayerlessness.

1. Humble Yourself

“Prayerlessness will not send you to hell, but sometimes it makes you feel like you’re already living there.”  (Lord, Teach Us to Pray,  College of Prayer International, 2017, pp.32)

Prayerlessness is not merely a weakness but a sin. The roots of prayerlessness are pride – I can count on myself so I don’t need to pray, unbelief – prayers will not make any changes,  and idolatry – putting our hopes on what we can see rather than on the invisible God.

2. Renounce discouragement and hopelessness

“In the same way, the Ruach (Spirit)  helps in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Ruach Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.” (Rom 8:26, TLV)

“Pray in the Ruach on every occasion, with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (Eph 6:18, TLV)

We do not know how to pray. We pray prophetically by the Holy Spirit. We need to renounce every discouragement and helplessness in our lives and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit fervently. 

3. Receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit

“Then I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zec 12:10a, TLV)

“But you, loved ones, continue building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit). Keep yourselves in the love of God, eagerly waiting for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah that leads to eternal life.” (Jud 1:20-21, TLV)

The Holy Spirit is a spirit of grace and supplication, and the Holy Spirit is a praying spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will guide us to pray in the light of God’s will!

Dear Praying Priests, this week let us repent for all our pride, unbelief, and idolatry in our praying life. Renounce the sin of prayerlessness, resist the devil (Jas 4:7), and allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our mind, will, and emotions so that we may pray like Yeshua HaMashiach.  Amen.