EFFECTIVE PRAYING SHEPHERD

Main Scriptures: Lk.21:25-27

More Scriptures: Matt.15:32, Jnh.2:7, Jos.21:45

Yesterday, by the help of the Holy Spirt, we understood the importance of prayer in our quest to become that good and godly man, husband and father that God and our sheep will be proud of. We said that prayer is not just to meet our needs, it is also an instrument for our empowerment towards becoming relevant and useful to our sheep. And that we need to always pray if we do not want to faint. This is because prayer is both curative and preventive.

What other benefit do you gain if you pray always? Prayer is the foundation for your victory over the works of the devil that are trying to manifest themselves in the lives of your wife, children, their health, academics, finances and many more areas. Every time you pray, you are building the power base of your life to challenge every ungodly tendency in and around your family. Your pastor cannot do much to build your power base. You have the greater responsibility to develop your prayer charger than anyone else.  For instance, I encourage every husband to set aside days of the week, when he prays for himself and his family. Just as you are reading today’s devotional, I have prayed for my children, their husbands, career, health and finances. I spoke God’s words into their future, and I am confident that God has honoured His words in their lives. Other times outside of a planned arrangement, I pray as I am led by the Holy Spirit.

But what is prayer? Prayer is a spiritual seed that goes into the future to reshape the destinies and circumstances of your life and that of your wife and children. It is also the channel through which we secure the help of God to overcome the challenges of life. Prayer is not only about asking the Lord for bread and butter. It is about building a relationship with God, your Father. As the head of the family, it is important that your wife and children see the nature of God, the Father in you, if you want them to have a fatherly relationship with God. And you can achieve this through prayer-an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Praying is also a sign of maturity.

What then happens when I become an effective praying shepherd? You become a prevailing and victorious leader. This means you will begin to do exploits in your sheepfold- You lay your hands on your sick wife and children and they recover, you speak God’s word in their direction, and it comes to pass in their lives. It also establishes your children in righteousness and glory (Ps.89:4). When you look at the terrible news coming out from the world today, you will discover that you and your sheep and sheepfold are not safe if you all are not insulated in your prayer canopy. It is time for you to rise up and pray for yourself, your wife and children, not once in a while but always because that is your assurance of a peaceful and triumphant life as the godly husbandman.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

• Father, in the Name of Jesus, empower me with the Spirit of grace and supplication.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, anoint me with power and authority to do great works in my sheepfold.
• Father, in the Name of Jesus, continue to rekindle my prayer altar for effective leadership.

 FAITH CONFESSION

I stand on my watch to pray for my sheep and sheepfold because that is what makes me the good and godly husbandman in Jesus name. Amen.

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