PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
We thank God for this months of prayer. Many of us are so busy working for God and not communing with God. Let us take opportunity to seek the face of the Lord during this season. Pray without ceasing, be an instrument of prayer and live a life of prayer. Let prayer be your life style. There are many things you cannot express by words to anyone, the Lord understands.
Prayer can be abbreviated as ACTSP, this means Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication/Intercession and Petition.
Adoration is where we worship God for who He is. In this session you get lost in the love of God for He is loving, wonderful, worthy, highly exalted, excellent, He is able, gracious and merciful. A person who does not worship God for who He is cannot go to the next level and their prayers have no basis.
In confession one acknowledges that we have sinned in word, in thought and deed. We approach the throne of God in confidence that He forgives, sanctifies and purifies. The Lord cleanses us instantly with His blood 1 John 1:8-9 and Isaiah 1:18-19
When we understand who God is, and appreciate that He forgives, then our hearts are open to say thank you irrespective of circumstances. We need to thank God at all times and in all places.
Thanksgiving makes us to appreciate other people’s needs first before we think about ourselves. This stage helps us to view the world with the eyes of God. We pray for the State, the Church, the sick and all conditions not affecting personally but the people of God.
Petition or asking for issues concerning you as a person comes last. It is sad that for many of us prayer is about us. Such a selfish prayer is not honored by God that is why we pray and never receive [James 4:1-12, 5:13-18]. James gives us many issues to deal with if our prayers will be acceptable to God.
Dear brothers and sisters, ”pray without ceasing”
May God bless you.
The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye
PROVOST