PRAYERS UNLOCK THE DOORS

Main Scriptures: Luke 18:1

More Scriptures: Eph.6:18, Rom.12:12, 1Thess.5:17

Some couple weeks back, I was invited to speak at an event. It is a programme designed for married spouses to unwind while hearing the word of God. The focus was on the husband. After I had taught, opportunity was given to the audience to ask questions. One thing that was consistent in all my responses to those who asked questions was prayer. Prayer is an indispensable weapon in the hand of any husbandman who wants to succeed as the godly man, husband and father. Prayer is a vital instrument for the empowerment of the shepherd if he desires to provide purposeful leadership to his sheep. Infact, there is no substitute to prayer for you and me, if we want to remain relevant to God and to our sheep. Prayer does not only give you what you need, it also helps you to become who God says you are.

And he (Jesus Christ) spake a parable unto them to this end, THAT MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, AND NOT FAINT.  (Luke 18:1). This is one of the most profound statements on prayer that Jesus made. Jesus, the perfect example of the good and godly husband, says that, if you don’t want to faint as the head of your family, you must be fired up in your prayer life. As a counselor, I meet with shepherds, who come to my office dejected, discouraged and without hope. They seem to have lost all and do not know what to do. The pressure is so overwhelming on them- dealing with a disobedient wife, handling wayward children, struggling financially to meet their obligations to their sheep as well as other commitments, struggling with addiction. The list seems to be endless. One thing I say to them is to engage the weapon of prayer. Until you engage the weapon of prayers as you lead your wife and children, you may not have the strength to carry on with your responsibilities and face the challenges. Prayer is the answer to that challenge that you are going through. As the head of the family, you must appreciate that challenges will come your way. It is part of your growth process as the godly shepherd. Some of these challenges will come announced, others will not give you notice. In whatever way these problems present themselves, confront them with the weapon of prayer. One strategy you must adopt so that you are not subdued and consumed by challenges is to live prepared. What does this mean? It means preventive instead curative. It means overcoming the challenges in advance and entering your rest ahead. “Men ought to always pray and not faint”. Note the word, “always”.  That is the message for you and I today as shepherds. Let us develop and live a lifestyle of praying always for all things and at all times by the word of God and the Spirit of God.

SPIRITUAL EXRCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, rekindle my prayer life by Your Spirit and breath fresh life into me.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, teach me how to pray and let me pray according to Your will always.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, deliver me from the spirit of weariness.

FAITH CONFESSION

I give myself to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting in order to remain relevant and victorious in my role as the shepherd of my wife and children because that is what makes me the good and godly husbandman in Jesus name. Amen.

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