Monday, 5th February 2024
By Pst Israel Olorunfemi
TEXT: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10) (Emphasis mine).
I welcome you to our week of signs and wonders. By the light of God that will shine on your path this week, your life shall be full of signs and wonders, in Jesus name.
Today is MTD Hour of Mercy. It is our custom, as directed by God, to come to Him in prayer at the Hour of Mercy (12pm – 1pm every Monday). He promised to look unto us in His mercy and to grant us our petition. He has since been faithful. He will answer you today with your own testimony as a proof, in Jesus name.
I want you to know that testimonies are meant more for those who are not selfish in their prayer. The reason why some issues won’t go in some people’s lives is because they allow those issues to determine their daily prayer. If you will see your testimony the way Job saw his double restoration testimony in today’s anchor scripture, then, stand in gap to pray for someone else at the Hour of Mercy today.
Job prayed for his friends and his captivity turned. This is what is called intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is prayer for the needs of others. Praying for others is an unselfish expression of love. God wants us to stand in prayer not for our needs alone but for the needs of others also. This is because praying for others reflects God’s own character of love and mercy. God wants us to think like He does, and praying for others helps us to think beyond ourselves and to grow in compassion for others.
On who to pray for, God gives us instructions on that in several places in the Bible. For instance, apostle James tells us to “Pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). Apostle Paul also encourages us to pray for Church members and ministers when he says: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains” (Eph 6:18-20).
Apostle Paul further urges us “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1Tim 2:1-2). So we are to pray for government leaders and others who may not know we exist and who haven’t asked us to pray for them.
So, beloved, don’t ever say you have too many needs to handle in prayer that will not allow you to pray for someone else today. Praying for others is paving way for your own testimony to manifest.
ACTION STEP:
Put this to work today. During the Hour of Mercy (12pm-1pm of your country’s time), take someone you know who has a need to God in prayer and also pray for the salvation of souls of men around you. I guarantee you, your own issues will be sorted out as testimonies before the week is over, in Jesus name.
PRAYER: Testimonies all the way for you this week, in Jesus name.
DAILY CONFESSION:
This year 2024, I am advancing in adversity because I’ve been redeemed to flourish in hard times therefore my life shall be full of wonders. Amen and amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Feb 5 (Matt 23:1-22; Exo 35-38)
Please, share this message with your contacts.