DO YOU PRAY?

DAY 173

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

When you open a savings account with any bank, you will very likely be given a debit card. Unlike a credit card that comes preloaded with money, a debit card is able to access only that which is saved in that Account. Perhaps, others may transfer some funds every now again into this account, but over and above that, what is saved in it, is what you have access to.

There is no use of conditional phrases or probabilities in the words of Jesus found in the Gospel today. It is an imperative, ‘when you pray…’ This is simply a reminder then that we have to pray. In the parable of the widew and judge in Luke 18:1, this was the preamble: ‘And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.’

Even when you have no prayer requests, just pray- For yourself and for others. Pray about the present you see, and the future you want to see. Garrison your defences, raise vials of gratitude, sound trumpets of praise and burn the incense of warfare. With a minute here and an hour there, create a reserve and a buffer for yourself from your prayer altar.

Because there will come a time when the capacity to do stretch yourself in prayer won’t be readily available. You may need to make a quick withdrawal only to realise there is no reserve and the account is depleted. ‘If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small (Prov 24:10).

You do not prepare for battle in the time of war- preparations are done when there is quiet round about. Build your prayer reserves.

#sly