Daily Devotional
Resist the Sloppiness of Casual Prayer
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me.”
Romans 15:30
October 4, 2020
Ponder This
One thing I’m trying to cure myself of is casual prayer. Prayer that’s not intense. Prayer that costs little.
Do you know that the Bible calls prayer “wrestling”? When Paul said, “That you strive together,” the picture is one of a wrestling match.
Have you ever thought of prayer as wrestling? If you really get into intercession, you’re going to find out that the devil will fight you and oppose you. Prayer is work. I’d rather preach for an hour than to pray for a half an hour, as so far as the labor that it takes for genuine prayer.
How much genuine agonizing do we do in prayer? I love Jeremiah 29:13, where God says, “And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Seek Him in prayer with frequency and fervency of the prayer. Sometimes we don’t feel like praying so we pass it by. But friend, if there’s ever a time you need to pray, it’s when you don’t feel like it.
Practice This
Ask yourself: “How much genuine agonizing do I do in prayer?” Search for God with all your heart. Pray even when you don’t feel like it. Pray not only frequently but fervently.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
