35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
At the beginning of the year, many believers spend more time in the Prayer Closet. Prayer and fasting for twenty-one days, thirty days, or forty days cycles. What a joy to spend time in the presence of the Lord. To dwell in the secret place of the almighty.
In my Prayer Closet this year, the holy spirit started teaching me about hindrances that cause unanswered prayers. Among the issues, the Lord taught me I felt compelled to share two of them with friends and parishioners.
1. Praying according to the will of God.
As we started the prayers and fasting, I shared this truth that the Holy Spirit was emphasizing in my heart. We need to pray according to the Agenda and will of God.
For a long time, we receive a new year, and we rush to proclaim ” this is my year”. However, there was something different with 2021, the Lord is saying “2021 is the year of the Lord “.
Therefore, when in the Prayer Closet it is up to us to yield and align ourselves to him so that we fulfill His agenda, His Purpose, His Plan for this year.
2. Deal With Unconfessed Sin
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. Matthew 6:6 KJV
Understanding that transactions of the Prayer Closet are privy between you and God is the first step to liberation.
We are in an era where the pressure to keep appearances is on the higher end. Sometimes we forget that we can not keep appearances with God. There is nothing to hide from Him. If we keep appearances it for people not for God. Because He looks into the heart. He rebuked Samuel when he sent him to anoint a king. Like us, Samuel was looking at appearances.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
In the process of hiding our shortcomings, failures, and sins from others let us not carry it over to the Prayer Closet. Like David we can tell the Lord to search our hearts and if there be any wickedness to lead us in his way of everlasting.
Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts; Psalms 139:23 AMP
And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in an everlasting way. Psalms 139:24 AMP
To listen to a playlist dedicated to this topic. Check out this link below. You will discover
The Cause of Unconfessed Sin
The Condition of Unconfessed Sin
The Consequences of unconfessed sin
The Conclusion.
Listen to Prayer Closet, a playlist by Pastor Lucy Paynter
You have placed our wickedness before you, Our secret sins [which we tried to conceal, You have placed] in the [revealing] light of Your presence.
Psalms 90:8 AMP
Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 139:23-24 AMP. Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, favored by God] is he whose transgression is forgiven, And whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute wickedness, And in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent about my sin , my body wasted away Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand [of displeasure] was heavy upon me; My energy (vitality, strength) was drained away as with the burning heat of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my wickedness; I said, “I will confess [all] my transgressions to the Lord ”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [for forgiveness] in a time when You [are near and] may be found; Surely when the great waters [of trial and distressing times] overflow they will not reach [the spirit in] him. You are my hiding place; You, Lord , protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you. Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bridle and rein to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in and relies on the Lord shall be surrounded with compassion and lovingkindness. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous [who actively seek right standing with Him]; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Psalms 32:1-11
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Come and hear, all who fear God [and worship Him with awe-inspired reverence and obedience], And I will tell what He has done for me. I cried aloud to Him; He was highly praised with my tongue. If I regard sin and baseness in my heart [that is, if I know it is there and do nothing about it], The Lord will not hear [me]; But certainly God has heard [me]; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me.
Psalms 66:16-20 AMP
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This episode is sponsored by
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