Luke 18: 1 (KJV)
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18: 1 (AMPC)
Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).
Luke 18: 1 (MSG)
Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit
Luke 18: 1 (TLB)
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.
The word “OUGHT” in the Greek is DEI – It is a word for “COMPULSORY”, NECESSITY”, “A MUST”
“Men were created and designed with prayer in VIEW”
When God was creating, He created you as an object, a being, a creature of prayer; by design prayer was built and fabricated into my nature. I am made a creature of prayer. MEN OUGHT!!! What was in God’s mind when creating man is PRAYER!
Three major points to note from the different translation of this scriptures
- Firstly, prayer is a MUST.
- Secondly, men are designed to pray ALWAYS!
- Thirdly, you MUST NOT QUIT praying until the answer comes
To “Faint” means to be discouraged, to be weary, to burn out
God designed us in such a way that prayer is an integral part of our lives. There’s a God-shaped vacuum in the soul of everyman crying out to His maker. When God made man, he made him to call upon Him, a part of him must seek after God. All flesh must come to God, it is part of God’s design in man.
Psalm 65: 2 (KJV)
O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Prayer is a call of the soul which can not be denied by God. Prayer is sign you need God. Prayer is a sign that you can not do it all by yourself. Prayer is a place of surrender, encounter and succour. The safest place in the world today is the secret place of prayer. Prayer is the best weapon you must possess in your arsenal.
This is the time to pray like never before. Pray until something happens, pray until you see the desired result in your life, pray until your spirit, soul and body aligns with God’s plan. Plan your prayer times, structure and schedule a consistent prayer life. A prayer altar is build on consistency, the devil hates consistent men with spiritual things. Consistency is spiritual. Do everything you can to pray!
Force yourself to pray, because something is forcing you nothing to pray. Everything is designed to distract the believer. No man is greater than his prayer life. Your prayer life is a true test of your spiritual health. Get rid of everything – guilt, inferiority and condemnation of the enemy, and make prayer a priority. Life is spiritual, it is too dangerous not to pray!
If you have not taken prayer seriously, you are losing so much benefit. Prayer is how we breathe spiritually. We breathe in the word of God, we breathe out prayer to God – This is spiritual breathing. When you stop breathing you die. Some Christians are like walking corpses; alive physically, but dead spiritually. God is calling you back to fan the fire on your altar back to flames.
Prayer is non negotiable. Jesus said “MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY”, so it is a must, it is a necessity for me! Don’t be too tired to pray. Don’t be too last to pray. Don’t be too bust to pray. Martin Luther said, I have so much on my list to do today but I will spend the first three hours in prayer. So much to be done, but prayer is the priority. What you place as priority shows what is in your heart.
Prayer first! First things first! Prayer first! In everything I plan to do, prayer first. Any other thing can wait, the emergency can wait. Nothing should be treated as a matter of urgency other than prayer. Prayer is the only force on earth God yields to. Prayer – This is how we win!
Why You Must Pray Always
- Prayer is fellowship with God, and every believer should fellowship God
- Prayer helps us to experience the tangible power of God in our lives
- Prayer gives legal right to operate on our behalf
- Prayer is a weapon against the Satan and his cohort, and also aids us against temptation
- Prayer gives us insight and inspiration
- Prayer is proof that I trust God
- Prayer keeps me in the will of God
- Prayer changes people, Prayer changes situation
- Prayer brings peace, joy
- Prayer gives direction and clarity
DECLARATION
Today, I declare that my prayer life is revived. There is fire burning always on my prayer altar. I prioritize prayer always. I give myself wholly to prayer and the ministry of the word of God. Prayer is my delight! Glory to God! (Please spend more time to pray in the Holy Ghost)
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
Hebrews 4: 16; Philippians 4: 6 – 7; Ephesians 6: 18
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