Open Heavens Daily Devotional

PRAYER NEUTRALIZES FEAR – Monday August 31st 2015

Memorise: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrew 4:16

Read: Luke 1:5-13, Bible in one year: Exodus 1-3, Romans 3:9-31

MESSAGE

Prayer unleashes great possibilities to anyone who is given to it. Looking at the experience of Zacharias in today’s Bible reading, we can see some of the things made possible through prayer. First, when you pray, you attract angelic visitations into your situation. In other words, prayer brings the supernatural into the natural. Any time you are tired of the ordinary, pray, and you will see the supernatural. Are you tired of seeing ordinary results? Pray, and you will soon receive results that are beyond your imagination.

In addition, when you pray, your fear is substitute with calmness. Prayer causes fear to dissipate, because it is linked with faith, just as fear is linked with unbelief. While intensive prayers were going on in the temple, Zacharias heard an angel say “Fear not”. When you hear “Fear not”, don’t jump up in excitement until you have found out the source of that command. For instance, if a man tells you not to be afraid, there may still be reasons to accommodate some elements of fear, because of man’s several limitations; but if God tells you not to be afraid, then you can rest assured there is nothing to fear.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrew 4:16

Are you afraid? Pray! As you engage the prayer gear, boldness will surge into you, and before long, fear would have disappeared. If you are constantly tormented by fear, it is an indication of the absence of an effective prayer life. If you pray often, you will always be looking up at the sunny side of life. You will be optimistic. You will have hope for the future and easily accept that your tomorrow will be alright. On the other hand, if you seldom pray, you will always see the bleak side of life. You will be easily discouraged. You will be full of fear, worry and anxiety. You will equally be filled with suspicion. With fear in your heart, it will almost be impossible to do what you should do, go where you should go and be all you were created to be. Fear paralyses, don’t give room to it.    

Key Point

Prayerlessness ensnares the prayer-less fellow in the trap of fear. Only a fervent, vibrant and consistent prayer life can set him free.