Anglican Devotional 3 September 2023 – Keep Praying

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 3 September 2023 – Keep Praying

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TOPIC – Keep Praying

READ: Luke 11:1-13 (NKJV)

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, [that] one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it is] in heaven.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves;

‘for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

“and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?

“I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

” So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if [he asks] for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

“Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

THE MESSAGE:

It was holidays and my 11-year old second son decided to join me to work at one of our sites. At the end of the day’s work and on our way home, we got to a traffic checkpoint and had to wait till it was our turn to be passed by the traffic controller. This gave the street beggars the opportunity to approach our car to beg for alms. I initially didn’t look their way until my son said, “Daddy, please give them money.” I didn’t object to his request. I later turned to him and asked him why did he request that I should give money to the beggars. He replied, “If you didn’t give them now, they will continue to follow us.” I laughed and quickly remembered the words of Jesus.

Jesus enjoined us not to give up in prayers no matter how long it took for the answers to come. He assured that any man who asks shall receive. Some of us may have tarried in prayer for a particular issue to the point where it seems as if God no longer answers prayer. The words of Jesus are an encouragement that our heavenly father desires to give us good gifts as we continue to “ask”, “seek”and “knock.”However, we must also remember that God’s timing remains the best.

PRAYER: Give me the grace to wait on You in prayers always, O Lord.

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) provides daily scriptural readings and reflections to help individuals deepen their relationship with God. This edition for 3 September 2023 focuses on the theme of forgiveness and explores how we can receive and extend forgiveness to others as Christ did for us. Join us in this enriching journey of faith and discover the power of forgiveness in your life.

Openheavens COM NIG : Unless you are born again,you can not see the Kingdom of God .Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Dear God, I come before you as a sinner, recognizing my need for forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins. I am truly sorry for my actions and the ways I have fallen short. I repent of my sins and ask for your forgiveness. I invite Jesus into my heart and life, to be my Lord and Savior. Please guide and transform me from this day forward. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.