Persist In Prayers And The Word

Luke 18:1 (NKJV)

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart

Emphasis Mine

In this verse, Jesus was talking to His disciples. Encouraging them to always pray. “Always” here will mean to be consistent and persistent. Meaning to always pray even when there is no tangible evidence of the results you expect and to pray even when it is uncomfortable.

Why should we be consistent and persistent in prayers? We should because we trust His character as a never changing Father and we have chosen to live in obedience to His instruction given in Luke 18:1. The bible also records in John 17, Jesus’ prayer to the Father.

Prayers keep us in perpetual fellowship with the Father. It is a two-way communication with our Daddy.  Through prayers, we receive instructions and directions for the next assignment for our lives. One who chooses to live godly must settle it within them that godliness will require total surrender and complete dependence on God Himself on how to navigate through life.

The Word of God provides the language we use in communication with the Father. When we pray, we get into agreement with the Father concerning His word. For example, the word of God tells us that in everything, we should give thanks. So, when we give thanks (or say thank you, Father, in our prayers), we are agreeing with Him according to His word. Amen.

It can be quite challenging to be consistent and persistent in prayers without knowledge of God’s Word. Through the word, we have access to the knowledge of His promises, we receive encouragements through some of the characters in scriptures and more.

Do not relent; Persist in prayers and the word.  because these are the two most important aspects guaranteed to equip you to live a godly life. Amen.

Continue In The Spirit

A decision to live godly is a decision to live a Spirit-led life. Meaning, as a believer, the Holy Spirit now dwells in you. We are told in John 4:24 that God is Spirit, so, it, therefore, His offspring are spirit beings as well. As an unbeliever, the Holy Spirit convicted you of sin and as a result, you received the message of your salvation and became born again.

Our emphasis is this, you began in the Spirit, so continue in the Spirit. Paul, writing to the Galatians said this,

Galatians 3:2-4 (NIV)

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.  How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?

Always remember to tell yourself this truth “I began in the spirit; I will continue in the spirit”.

As already established, a godly life is a Spirit-led life, and your success in this new lifestyle of godliness is only guaranteed when you live as led by the Holy Spirit within you. Otherwise, you will wound up living in condemnation, depending on human effort to make changes in your life and more.

It is only by continuing in the Spirit that you can be guaranteed to enjoy blessings from the spirit such as the fruit of the spirit, the gifts of the spirit and more.

So, I encourage you to let go of human efforts, let go of the law, rather, continue in the spirit. Amen