Message Library

Dependence through Prayer

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After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

Matthew 14:23

Do we pray because we are dependent on the Lord, and did Jesus pray because he was dependent on the Father? The more we pray the more we need the Lord, because prayer brings us into the presence of God, which can have a powerful effect on our thoughts and emotions. Whatever mental and emotional state we are in, we can go to the Lord and release our cares to him. His power will calm our soul as we put our trust in him. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Prayer shows our faith and dependence on God, and it releases any self-sufficient attitude that we may harbor. It’s easy for us to forget to pray because most of us were raised to be self-sufficient and go through our days with confidence. We can handle all situation ourselves, making it difficult to depend on the Lord. At the end of each day I ask myself, “Did I depend on the Lord today? If I don’t depend on the Lord’s guidance to get me through the day, am I being prideful?”

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) Christians live to bear fruit, (pointing people to Christ), and we cannot do this without the divine power of the Holy Spirit. However if we do not live to serve the Lord, then we are just praying asking God to be our servant.

The more we pray the closer we are to the Lord, living with more faith, love, peace, and joy. We cannot be close to the Lord without experiencing his love, peace, and joy in our lives. The more we pray, read and meditate on the Word, fellowship with our Christians brothers and sisters, and serve the Lord, the more our hearts are filled with his love, making us more Christ-like. Then the love, peace, and joy increases as fear, worry, anger, and all the things of Satan disappear. If we want to be closer to the Lord then we fill our hearts with his love, and we do this by ministering to lost souls living in Satan’s lies.

Today, depend on the Lord to be Christ-like in every situation. Let the Spirit guide you to bring Christ to anyone who will listen. Spend the day communing and praying for the Lord’s guidance to be a light in this darkening world. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Prayer: Lord, open my heart to depend on you, to call on you in prayer for your divine guidance to be a light in this world. Open my heart with your love to minister to everyone. In Jesus’ name, Amen