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Prayer, they say, is the key. There is this song we used to sing in church when I was a kid.
Prayer is the key, prayer is the key
Prayer is the master key
Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer
Prayer is the master key.
Truly, Prayer is key, and it was a hallmark of our Lord's earthly ministry. But Jesus didn't only pray, He exercised faith. He lived in obedience to God.
Bro Eli Soriano's teaching is timely and crucial, as we mostly tend to over rely on prayer rather than practical demonstration of our faith in the Word of God. Prayer assures us of God's ever abiding presence, offering us the avenue of pouring out our heart to Him and receiving assurance.
However, it is our actions that tell whether we truly believe or not.
Quoting from Matthew 7:7, Bro Eli shows us the sequence of praying — Ask,Seek, Knock. All these are actions, not passive, words.
Jesus told a parable in Look 18:1-5, teaching on the importance of persistent request through prayer.
A poor widow kept troubling an unjust judge, coming back again and again, until her request was granted. Initially, she asked but was turned down, even sent off. But she returned, seeking. Again, she was turned down, and sent away. Yet again, she returned. This time, knocking. At this point, the unjust judge couldn't refuse her persistence; he granted her her heart desire.
God loves us to take responsibility for ourselves, even while depending on Him. But we must not use prayer as an excuse for laziness. That's not faith. It's complacency. If we pray, we must believe. And if we believe, we must be ready to take necessary action that demonstrates our faith in God and His unfailing Word.
O God help me believe.