METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA DAILY REFLECTION FOR AUGUST 2, 2024 : TOPIC – HE KNOWS YOUR NEEDS
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METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA DAILY REFLECTION
DATE: FRIDAY, 2ND AUGUST, 2024
THEME: HE KNOWS YOUR NEEDS
PASSAGE: MATTHEW 6:5–13
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
THE MESSAGE:
One of the greatest inventions of this generation is the search engine, Google. You may have driven thousands of kilometers across Nigeria to unknown destinations without stopping on the way to ask anyone for direction, because a voice keeps giving you direction. You may have sought answers to countless questions on the Google application to your utmost satisfaction. It seems the Google application knows and can give answers to many of your needs. All you need to do is Ask, an acronym for Ask, Seek and Knock. If for instance, you need something and you refuse to Ask, you will always lack that thing.
In teaching the model prayer in Matthew 6:5–13, Jesus tells us that God, our heavenly Father, not only knows all our needs but “knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). That is one thing that Google or any search engine cannot do. God alone knows all things, sees all things, and can do all things. He created the creators of all artificial intelligence.
The Word of God enjoins us, as the redeemed of the Lord, to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). We are not to fret or make our prayers in any complicated or fanciful manner. Before we ask, our heavenly Father knows our needs, but He wants us to humbly ask Him. In faith and simple language, we can bare our minds to God and talk with Him as we do with our earthly parents and friends.
We can then rest assured that our Father hears us when we pray and that our petitions and supplications will produce testimonies of God’s goodness and mercy.
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
HYMN: MHB 538 (8.7.8.7.D.) WHAT a Friend we have in Jesus.
1 WHAT a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge:
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee.
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Joseph Medlicott Scriven, 1820–86.
PRAYER: Lord, please teach me how to pray aright and help me to pray without doubt, in Jesus Name. Amen.