Priority of Prayer for 2024

 

Intro: As we think about our priorities for 2024, our top priorities should be of the spiritual nature. Those things that will help us grow in our relationship with God. Our spiritual life controls how we respond to all other things. God is concerned about every area of our lives and wants us to seek Him in prayer for His will, His guidance, His blessings, favor and wisdom in all of our ways. Prayer is one of the of the greatest privileges that we have, and God encourages us to use our privilege of prayer & we would be wise if we listened to His advice!

I. One of our top priorities for this year should be prayer. (Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

A. We have an open invitation from God to call on Him in prayer. Only through prayer can we believers stay in contact with God, know what he wants us to do and the way we should go. The people of Israel asked Jeremiah 42:3 (NLT) Pray that the LORD God will show us what to do and where to go.” God's word is like a map or G.P.S. System giving us guidance as to the right way to go.                                                        

B. The promise if we call on God is (V:33b)

1. He will answer us. We should pray in confident & complete trust in God's word to us.

2. He will show us the things we don’t know. God’s plans for the future are inaccessible to ordinary people. Only God can unlock the answer to the things we don't know. He offered this knowledge to Jeremiah and to every one of us who are children of Abraham by faith.

II. Jesus invites us to call on God in prayer. In Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)⁹  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ¹⁰  Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹  Give us this day our daily bread. ¹²  And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. ¹³  And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Jesus had given the disciples and us a model prayer. Now He assures them that God welcomes prayer, and urged them to come to Him through their own prayers in His name. Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Jesus gives us the conditions of prayer.                                               1. Ask – Continuous and persistent action. Emphasized by the present tense. [keep on]

2. Seek- “keep seeking” - Like seeking some lost treasure that means the most to you.

3. Knock - “keep on knocking” Don't give up on prayer.

B. God's promise to us if we do these things faithfully. Matthew 7:⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.                                                                    1. We will receive. The answers we need to make right choices that will keep us on the right path and keep us faithful to Him, and keep us away from sin and trouble will be given.

2. You will find. We will find God more than ready and willing to help us along life’s journey this year. We can find God's will for our lives, our families, church and nation.

3. It will be opened. God promises that the door to His throne room will be opened to us.

III. God's promise to meet our needs when we pray. Matthew 7:9-11 (NKJV)
⁹  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
¹⁰  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
¹¹  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

A. The Father is willing to answer us because He delights in granting our request.

B. He will give us the good things that we need to promote our health and well-being, our prosperity and success in life. Prayer makes sure we live with a humble acknowledgment of our need for His grace and mercy, knowing He is our only hope for staying on course and fulfilling our created purpose. God faithfully rewards those who call on Him.

Conclusion: Prayer shouldn't be looked upon as a burden, but a privilege in which we are able to communicate with the One who created us and who is in charge of the whole universe. Philippians 4:6 in the New Living Translation says “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” For the abundant, stress free, successful life, make prayer one of your top priorities for this year. This is the way of wisdom.

Invitation: First priority in prayer is salvation. If you have never called on Jesus to save you, now is the time! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sins against God. Then invite Jesus into your life to take charge of you. Be baptized as a public testimony of your faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.