OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: FRIDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2017
THEME: IMPORTUNE PRAYER OR VAIN
REPETITION?
Memorise:
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,
as the heathen do: for they think that they
shall be heard for their much speaking.
Matthew 6:7
Read: Luke 18:1-8
18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to
this end, that men ought always to pray, and
not to faint;
18:2 Saying, There was in a city a judge,
which feared not God, neither regarded
man:
18:3 And there was a widow in that city;
and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me
of mine adversary.
18:4 And he would not for a while: but
afterward he said within himself, Though I
fear not God, nor regard man;
18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I
will avenge her, lest by her continual coming
she weary me.
18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the
unjust judge saith.
18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect,
which cry day and night unto him, though
he bear long with them?
18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them
speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man
cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Message:
A lot of people don’t know the difference
between importune prayer and prayer with
vain repetitions. Importune prayer,
otherwise known as persistent or relentless
prayer, is good and recommended by our
Lord Jesus Christ, while vain repetitions are
abhorred and condemned by Him. In our
memory verse, the Lord Himself warned us
against vain repetitions during prayer! The
question is, what does it mean to pray using
vain repititions? Does it mean, as assumed
by lot of people, using the same words over
and over again when praying? To answer
this question, let’s take a look at what Mark
14:39 says about the prayers the Lord
offered in the Garden of Gethsemane:
“And again he went away, and prayed, and
spake the same words.”
It is clear from this scripture that vain
repetition does not mean repeating the
same words in prayer. Using vain
repetitions in prayer simply means
continuously praying on a request for which
God has said “No” or “Wait”, “it’s not yet
time”, in the hope of stampeding Him into
doing what He has purposed not to do in
your own best interest. I remember when
my children were still young and we were
living in Mushin (Lagos, Nigeria), where
there were so many reckless drivers around.
My children asked for bicycles, but I refused
to grant that request because I did not want
to bury any of them. My answer to their
request could be interpreted as, “Wait, it’s
not yet time”. However, when we moved to
the Redemption Camp, where the roads
were safe for young fellows to ride bicycles,
I decided it was time to grant their request.
If they kept asking me for bicycles while we
were still at Mushin, that could be
interpreted as praying using vain
repetitions.
In our Bible reading, the Lord encouraged
importune or unrelenting prayer by using
the illustration of a judge who was not
sensitive to the plight of his petitioners, least
of all a lowly widow. Importune prayer is the
prayer we keep on saying when God has
not given a verdict of yes or no. It
demonstrates to God that we have no
alternative to Him and what He can do for
us. This story tells us that after the widow
kept on going to the judge day and night,
he decided to do what she wanted.
Although God cannot be intimidated by our
prayers, in as much as we ask according to
his will and we do not grow weary in
asking, He will always answer us. Daniel
prayed importune prayer for twenty-one
days before he got his answer. As a matter
of fact, it was his importune prayer that
prevented him from being robbed of the
answer to his request which had been
released on the very first day that he started
praying, but was hijacked by principalities
(Daniel 10:12-13). I pray that your cry to God
will be heard today and you will have
testimonies in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point:
Father, avenge me of my adversaries today,
and put laughter on my lips in Jesus’ Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Philippians2-4
Daniel 10:1-14
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 1: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!
3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.
4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens:
(Friday, October 20, 2017) - IMPORTUNE
PRAYER OR VAIN REPETITIONS?
1.Thank you, Father, for the potent weapon
of prayer; and for the grace and privilege to
stand before your throne of grace and
mercy.
2.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of
your glory, please, have mercy and forgive
me, in Jesus' name.
3.Father, release upon me, the grace and the
anointing, to pray, without ceasing, in Jesus'
name.
4.Father, let every long
outstanding prayer requests that I have
made before your throne of grace and
mercy, be answered today, in Jesus' name.
5.Father, empower me to always come
boldly, into the place of prayer, and to ask,
until my joy is full, in Jesus' name.
6.Holy Spirit, I confess, that I do not know
how to pray, as I ought to; please, help my
infirmities to pray, in Jesus' name.
7.Father, whoever, has my breakthroughs
and help in his/her hand, please, cause him/
her to release them to me, today, in Jesus'
name.
8.Father, you are the God that answers by
fire; please, let every request and petition
that I will make to you, as from today, find
favour before you, and be answered
speedily, in Jesus' name.
9.Father, avenge me of my adversaries
today, and put laughter on my lips in Jesus'
Name.
10.Father, give me the grace, never to give
up, at the edge of my breakthrough, in
Jesus' name.
11.Father, when your son, Jesus, shall come,
please, let me still be found in you, in Jesus'
name.
12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
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