DAILY DEVOTIONAL; THE OUGHT ABOUT PRAYER
DCLM Daily Manna, February 16, 2024: Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi—The Ought About Prayer
Topic: The Ought About Prayer (DCLM Daily Manna, February 16, 2024)
Key Verse: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
Text: Luke 18:1–8 (KJV)
And he spake a parable unto them to this end: that men ought always to pray and not to faint.
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge who feared not God nor regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.
4 And he would not for a while, but afterward, he said within himself, Though I fear not God nor regard man,
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge says.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?
DCLM Daily Manna for Today:
One of the city-dwelling relatives of a farmer visited him. Before dinner, the farmer bowed his head and said grace. His sophisticated relative jeered, “This is old-fashioned; nobody with an education prays at the table anymore.” The farmer admitted that the practice was old and even conceded that there were some on his farm who did not pray before their meals. Feeling justified, the relative remarked, “So enlightenment is finally reaching the farm. Who are these wise ones?” The farmer replied, “My pigs.”
Truly, those who live without praying identify with the lower animals that possess neither the instinct nor the ability to pray. But because we were made in the image of God, we have a natural inclination toward God, which finds expression through worship (including prayer). Man cannot do without God. Christ’s parable in today’s text about the importunate widow and the unjust judge was fittingly designed to teach us one lesson: men ought always to pray and not faint. In the parable, the helpless widow depended on the reluctant judge for justice against her oppressors. Her persistence won the day.
Christ did not mean that God is difficult to approach or reluctant to attend to our prayers, as was the unjust judge. It was to teach us that if the unrighteous judge could be moved by the perseverance of a hopeless widow to do justice, we have every reason to expect our compassionate God to answer those who cry to Him “day and night” for interventions.
Prayer is, basically, an acknowledgment of our rightful dependence on God. We must do it with faith in God’s goodness and faithfulness. He is able to meet our needs and solve our problems. But we must pray.
Thoughts for the Day
Prayer is a privilege, a priority, and a power source.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Joshua 19-21
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept you as my Lord and personal savior. I believe in my heart that you died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank you, Lord, for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen.
Content Credit / Deeper Life Daily Manna
Picture Credit / https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/pastor-w-f-kumuyi-at-80-gods-general-who-led-me-to-calvary/
