05-04-2019, 04:13 PM
*CAC LIVING WATER*
*DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE*
*Saturday, May 4, 2019*
*TOPIC:**THREE SIMPLE WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR PRAYER LIFE (I)*
*Read Ephesians 3:14-21*
*MEMORISE*
*For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Ephesians 3:14,15)*
*EXPOSITION*
In the first chapter of this letter, Paul had prayed for the Ephesians that *the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened* (Eph. 1:18). This was a prayer for enlightenment. Now in chapter 3, he prays for them *to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man* (Eph.3:16). This is a prayer for enablement. First, he prays that they can see and then he prays that they can be. How should these prayers help us in our prayer lives today? There are three principles we may learn to follow:
1. Pray with a reason. For this reason…(v. 14). Most of the times, Christians just start praying without any reason attributed to it, simply because God is so available to us, but prayer need to have a reason behind it. God expects that we would not pray aimlessly. Our prayers should be purposeful, and it can only be that when it is based on our knowledge of God’s word. What is the level of your intake of God’s Word?
2. Pray with an attitude. For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 14). This is the attitude where we recognize that God is great. Why do we kneel in prayer? Kneeling expresses two things: intensity and humility. There is a sense of humility when one kneels before God. In a culture where kneeling down is a common courtesy, the significance of kneeling in prayers may be easily lost. When a woman thinks of how many people she knelt down for, before a day ends, she may take one or two times she knelt in prayers. But in a culture where they usually stand up and look up to heaven with their hands lifted to God, the significance of what led them to kneeling will stick to their minds. Paul says, “For this reason I kneel.” He is saying this is a very intense moment and I humble myself before God.
*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Give God the glory for the privilege of coming to Him in prayer for whatever reasons
2. Ask God to give you the grace to always come to Him in prayer with all humility.
3. Pray that God will visit you and make His will for your life known and fulfilled.
*EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: I Samuel 25:11-27:5; Luke 21:25-22:8*
*HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY.............SHALOM*
*DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE*
*Saturday, May 4, 2019*
*TOPIC:**THREE SIMPLE WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR PRAYER LIFE (I)*
*Read Ephesians 3:14-21*
*MEMORISE*
*For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Ephesians 3:14,15)*
*EXPOSITION*
In the first chapter of this letter, Paul had prayed for the Ephesians that *the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened* (Eph. 1:18). This was a prayer for enlightenment. Now in chapter 3, he prays for them *to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man* (Eph.3:16). This is a prayer for enablement. First, he prays that they can see and then he prays that they can be. How should these prayers help us in our prayer lives today? There are three principles we may learn to follow:
1. Pray with a reason. For this reason…(v. 14). Most of the times, Christians just start praying without any reason attributed to it, simply because God is so available to us, but prayer need to have a reason behind it. God expects that we would not pray aimlessly. Our prayers should be purposeful, and it can only be that when it is based on our knowledge of God’s word. What is the level of your intake of God’s Word?
2. Pray with an attitude. For this reason, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 14). This is the attitude where we recognize that God is great. Why do we kneel in prayer? Kneeling expresses two things: intensity and humility. There is a sense of humility when one kneels before God. In a culture where kneeling down is a common courtesy, the significance of kneeling in prayers may be easily lost. When a woman thinks of how many people she knelt down for, before a day ends, she may take one or two times she knelt in prayers. But in a culture where they usually stand up and look up to heaven with their hands lifted to God, the significance of what led them to kneeling will stick to their minds. Paul says, “For this reason I kneel.” He is saying this is a very intense moment and I humble myself before God.
*PRAYER POINTS*
1. Give God the glory for the privilege of coming to Him in prayer for whatever reasons
2. Ask God to give you the grace to always come to Him in prayer with all humility.
3. Pray that God will visit you and make His will for your life known and fulfilled.
*EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: I Samuel 25:11-27:5; Luke 21:25-22:8*
*HAVE A GREAT SATURDAY.............SHALOM*