Seeking Divine Guidance Through Prayer and Intercession
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Guidance Over Human Opinion
In a world filled with conflicting advice, it is essential to prioritize seeking God's guidance through prayer and His Word. Human opinions can often be misleading and may not align with God's perfect plan for our lives. By turning to God, we can find direction that is reliable and tailored to our unique situations. This involves a conscious effort to quiet the noise of the world and focus on the wisdom that comes from above. Trusting in God's guidance requires faith and a willingness to follow His lead, even when it contradicts popular opinion. [00:41]
"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity." (Proverbs 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one decision you are currently facing where you need to seek God's guidance over human advice? How can you intentionally create space to hear from God today?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of Intercession
Intercession is a powerful act rooted in the victory of Jesus Christ. It involves standing in the gap for others and engaging in spiritual warfare to bring about God's will. This practice is not just a duty but a privilege that requires dedication and sacrifice. Intercessors play a crucial role in the spiritual realm, battling against forces that seek to hinder God's purposes. By committing to intercession, believers can witness profound changes in their lives and the lives of others, aligning with God's divine plan. [04:26]
"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." (Ezekiel 22:30, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that God is calling you to intercede for? How can you commit to standing in the gap for them this week?
Day 3: Perseverance in Prayer
Perseverance in prayer is crucial, especially when faced with opposition or discouragement. Like Daniel, who continued to pray despite challenges, believers are called to persist in seeking God. The Holy Spirit aids us in these moments, helping us to break through spiritual barriers. Our prayers have the potential to outlive us, impacting future generations and bringing about God's will on earth. This perseverance requires faith and a steadfast commitment to prayer, trusting that God hears and responds in His perfect timing. [14:32]
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel discouraged in prayer? How can you renew your commitment to persevere in prayer for this situation?
Day 4: The Cost and Responsibility of Intercession
True intercession requires dedication and sacrifice. It involves prioritizing prayer and sometimes fasting to seek God's will. The rewards of intercession are profound, as our prayers can bring about significant change and align us with God's purposes. This responsibility is not to be taken lightly, as it demands a willingness to invest time and energy into seeking God's heart for others. By embracing the cost of intercession, believers can experience the joy of partnering with God in His work on earth. [18:07]
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can incorporate fasting or dedicated prayer time into your routine to deepen your intercession for others?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
Remaining steadfast in faith, even when faced with disappointment or delay, is essential for believers. God's timing is perfect, and His plans are always for our good. By continuing to ask, seek, and knock, we demonstrate our trust in God's sovereignty and His ability to answer our prayers in His perfect way. This trust requires patience and a willingness to surrender our timelines to God's greater wisdom, knowing that He works all things together for our good. [36:23]
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God's timing? How can you practice surrendering this area to Him today?
Sermon Summary
In today's message, I emphasized the importance of seeking God's guidance over human opinions, especially in a world filled with conflicting advice. We often find ourselves overwhelmed by the multitude of voices offering advice on everything from financial decisions to personal life choices. However, true guidance comes from God, and it is crucial to seek His direction through prayer and His Word. This is particularly important in times of uncertainty, where human advice can lead us astray, but God's guidance is always reliable and tailored to our unique situations.
I also discussed the power and necessity of intercession, drawing from the example of Rhys Howells and the biblical figures who stood in the gap for others. Intercession is not just a practice but a powerful act rooted in the victory of Jesus Christ. It involves standing between God and the challenges we face, whether personal, communal, or national. The New Testament reminds us of the spiritual warfare that takes place in the heavenly realms, and as believers, we are called to engage in this battle through prayer, clothed in the armor of God.
Furthermore, I highlighted the importance of perseverance in prayer. Like Daniel, who prayed through difficult times, we must continue to seek God even when we face opposition or feel discouraged. The Holy Spirit guides us in these moments, helping us to break through spiritual barriers. There is a cost to intercession, and it requires dedication and sacrifice, but the rewards are profound. Our prayers can outlive us, impacting future generations and bringing about God's will on earth.
Finally, I encouraged everyone to remain steadfast in their faith, even when faced with disappointment or delay. God's timing is perfect, and His plans are always for our good. We must continue to ask, seek, and knock, trusting that God hears our prayers and will answer in His perfect way.
Key Takeaways
1. Seek God's Guidance: In a world filled with opinions, prioritize seeking God's guidance through prayer and His Word. Human advice can be conflicting and misleading, but God's direction is always reliable and specific to our needs. Trust in His wisdom over the noise of the world. [00:41]
2. The Power of Intercession: Intercession is a powerful act rooted in the victory of Jesus Christ. It involves standing in the gap for others and engaging in spiritual warfare. This practice is essential for bringing about God's will and requires dedication and sacrifice. [04:26]
3. Perseverance in Prayer: Like Daniel, we must persevere in prayer, even when faced with opposition or discouragement. The Holy Spirit guides us in these moments, helping us to break through spiritual barriers. Our prayers have the power to outlive us and impact future generations. [14:32]
4. The Cost of Intercession: True intercession requires dedication and sacrifice. It involves prioritizing prayer and sometimes fasting to seek God's will. The rewards are profound, as our prayers can bring about significant change and align us with God's purposes. [18:07]
5. Faith and Trust in God's Timing: Remain steadfast in faith, even when faced with disappointment or delay. God's timing is perfect, and His plans are always for our good. Continue to ask, seek, and knock, trusting that God hears our prayers and will answer in His perfect way. [36:23] ** [36:23]
What does Ephesians 6:10-18 say about the spiritual armor that believers are encouraged to wear? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual warfare mentioned in the sermon? [06:26]
In Daniel 10:12-14, what was the reason for the delay in the answer to Daniel's prayer, and how does this illustrate the importance of perseverance in prayer? [14:32]
According to Romans 8:26-28, how does the Holy Spirit assist us in our prayer life, especially when we are unsure of what to pray for? [16:30]
The sermon mentioned the example of Rhys Howells and his intercessory prayer during World War II. What impact did his intercession reportedly have, and how does this illustrate the power of intercessory prayer? [04:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the concept of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18 help believers understand the challenges they face in their prayer life? What practical steps can be taken to "put on" the armor of God? [06:26]
In what ways does Daniel's perseverance in prayer, as seen in Daniel 10:12-14, serve as a model for believers facing opposition or discouragement in their own prayer lives? [14:32]
How can Romans 8:26-28 provide comfort and encouragement to believers who feel overwhelmed by their circumstances and unsure of how to pray? [16:30]
The sermon emphasized the cost and responsibility of intercession. How can believers balance the demands of intercessory prayer with their other responsibilities and commitments? [18:07]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on a time when you relied on human advice over seeking God's guidance. How did that decision impact your life, and what steps can you take to prioritize God's guidance in future decisions? [00:41]
Consider the role of intercessory prayer in your life. Is there someone or something you feel called to intercede for? What practical steps can you take to commit to this intercession? [04:26]
Think about a situation where you have faced opposition or discouragement in your prayer life. How can Daniel's example of perseverance inspire you to continue praying through difficult times? [14:32]
The sermon mentioned the importance of faith and trust in God's timing. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's timing, especially when faced with disappointment or delay? [36:23]
Identify a specific area in your life where you feel the need for God's guidance. How can you incorporate prayer and scripture reading into your daily routine to seek His direction? [00:41]
The sermon highlighted the cost of intercession. What sacrifices might you need to make to deepen your prayer life, and how can you prepare yourself for these sacrifices? [18:07]
Reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in your prayer life. How can you become more attuned to the Spirit's guidance when you are unsure of how to pray? [16:30]
Sermon Clips
"Men give advice but God gives guidance, and we get so much advice out there. That's why it's so important to not just take opinions and seek God for guidance because when He might want you to buy a house, He might want me to sell it. He might want you to pull cash out of the bank, He might want me to keep it in there." [00:11:46]
"Intercession is based on the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ in his atoning death and Resurrection. See, intercession, in case you weren't here last week, it's you going in between. So you are going in between God and your prodigal, you're going in between God and your problem." [00:57:34]
"The New Testament makes it clear that there is consistent Warfare going on in the heavenlies, and the Apostle Paul was constantly urging Christians to be aware of this, to be clothed with Heavenly armor, and to fight the good fight of Faith." [00:06:52]
"Persevere and tell you Prevail, intercede until God intervenes. And something very profound and Powerful about prayer is you continue in it until there is a release and not just give up because you're frustrated." [00:36:23]
"True intercession requires dedication and sacrifice. It involves prioritizing prayer and sometimes fasting to seek God's will. The rewards are profound, as our prayers can bring about significant change and align us with God's purposes." [00:18:07]
"Faith fuels the fire of intercession. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. But just make sure there's a big difference between presumption and faith. You know what presumption is? I presume God is doing this. Be careful. Be careful. They look, they can look the same, right?" [01:02:28]
"Ask for help. Help. God, help. I need some help. Anybody ever pray that prayer? Parents, Romans 8:26, the spirit helps in our weakness. Thank God for that verse." [01:02:26]
"Don't let disappointment discourage you. I put that also just to let you know all of us experience disappointment. Anybody have any dead dreams out there you've been praying for or just me? I'm getting so discouraged sometimes, but discouragement is normal to our fallen condition." [00:47:50]
"Keep asking, keep asking, keep asking from Abraham to the Widow. And I told you the story Abraham already before that he kept asking 50, 40, 30. Lord and the Widow we see here Jesus gave this parable, hear what the unjust judge said, meaning he's not a righteous judge it didn't even matter." [00:45:35]
"Prayer is spiritual. Physical conflict is often a manifestation of heavenly Warfare. I'm not going to go into that because I did earlier, but wrestling is what Paul calls it. Wrestling, the Bible calls it wrestling. Wrestling is hard, it's lengthy, and it requires energy and a strategy." [00:55:13]
"Find a secluded place. The secret place is not a recommendation, it's a necessity. Find a quiet place. Short powerful public prayers are the outcome of long secret intercession." [01:00:08]
"Faith is like the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. You know that story from Daniel, and the Bible records that they were not going to bow down to the king, and we're not going to bow down to you no matter what O King and he said okay you're going to throw you in the fire." [01:03:51]