A Time to Pray •2nd half of the year in focus, By Pastor Okoro

Luke 28:1. 1 Thessalonians 5: 17.
Matthew 7:7. Proverbs 24:10. Acts 6:4.

Finally brethren, pray for us that … we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2.

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

We will set aside our conversation on the Marriage Institution this week to address the issue of prayers. This is urgent because we have just entered the SECOND HALF of the year. And that demands a lot of prayers since the second half in any event or program is more critical. The success in the second half can be the crowning glory.
Meanwhile, before we engage in real praying, let us confess our sins and errors before God because God doesn’t answer a sinner’s prayer. 1 John 1:7-9. .
Let us also appreciate and thank Him for seeing us through the FIRST HALF of the year. It’s the LORD’S doing, and it’s marvelous in our eyes. Shall we go!

1. As Paul notes in the passage above,
we need to pray because there are unreasonable people around us. For instance, when somebody wants to deny you the right to your faith? The right to your choice of who leads you? Or the right of where you should live in your own country? They can be more. These are unreasonable. And Paul enjoins us to pray about them, and against them.

Prayer: Ask God to disgrace all unreasonable people who are working hard to destroy my destiny, my future and those of my family members.
That, as God confounded Pharaoh who was unreasonable not to allow Israel freedom, God will destroy all such people, and cast them down in Jesus’ name. Amen.
As many as conspire against me and my family shall be visited by divine judgement as it happened upon Nebuchadnezzar in Jesus’ name.

2. We all have yearly programs and plans and aspirations. Somehow, wicked people usually stand against us and our families from realising them. Paul was faced with this evil in our text above. He was prevented from his work by wicked people.

Prayer: By the power of the Holy Ghost, all wicked people standing against the realization of my ambition for this year and beyond, and who oppose the progress of my programs and plans. catch fire now in Jesus’ name.
Those who are assisting them in these wickedness, receive double portion of your evil in Jesus’ name.
May their hands be broken and their tongues cleave to the roof their mouths in Jesus’ name.

3. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah was mocked by his co wife.
Tell the LORD, to change the narrative of your story as He did to Hannah in Jesus’ name.
Have you waited so long for kids?
Are your kids not doing well?
Is your business or career in deep stress or stagnation?
Is your health failing you? And your finances in tatters?
Have you remained single for a long time?
Whatever is the challenge. ?? The Bible says in Luke 1:37 , that with God all things are possible. Tell that same God who changed the story of Hannah to visit you with a new name and a new garment in Jesus’ name.

4. In John 5, the man at the pool of Bethesda says to Jesus, I have no man . Indeed, he had no man because for 38 years , he didn’t get help. But the appearance of Jesus change his condition.
Today call upon Jesus who helps the helpless, who helps the widow, the orphan and the needy to rescue you in Jesus’ name.
Are you a widow,? A single parent,? An abandoned spouse by a runaway partner?
Are you burdened by stubborn children?
God says, I will help you in times of need.
Yes, call upon Him now. He will help you. Jeremiah 33:3.

5. You have laboured so much on your children , but the results are not forthcoming . Some are even wayward and doing drugs.? Today, tell the good LORD to wipe away your tears because you are a seed of Abraham’, whom He promised to help. He helped Hagar when she was cast out from Abraham’s family at the instance of Sarah. God rescued her. That same God will answer you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Meanwhile, as we continue, be reminded that if there is somebody to pray, there is a God to ANSWER. Matthew 7:7. Therefore,

“Men ought always to pray and not to faint ” Luke 18:1. And again, God assures:

“If my people, which are called by name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face , and turn from their wicked ways ; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin , and will heal their land”. 2 Chronicles 7:14..

6. Pray that the Second half of the year will see us and our family members ending it STRONG and HEALTHY. Psalms 84:7; 90:14.
Ask God to take away sicknesses and diseases from among your family members. . And to heal those who are sick similarly. For by His stripes, we are healed.

7. That God will truncate all Satanic powers and the strong man waging WAR against the realization of the dreams of our children. Our children are for signs and wonders in Jesus’ name. Isaiah 8:18.

Ask God to restore wayward children to Godly obedience and parental submission. Also ask Him to heal stagnated family and personal progress. . Luke 1:37.

8. This is the age of returns for those in their 50s and above. Kids getting married. Children growing in their careers and family members and friends helped in the past now showing gratitude and appreciation — back in many ways. Tell the LORD that my case must not be different . And as the LORD remembered Noah in General 8 :1: ‘ I shall be remembered,’ in Jesus’ name.

9. That our DAUGHTERS and SONS who are ripe for marriage should get their right partners before the year runs out. Our daughters should marry in their prime! And that such potential spouses must be such that will give us peace in Jesus’ name. Amen.

10. That our children who have graduated and are unemployed or underemployed should secure right and proper jobs And those desiring to travel abroad should have open doors to do so this year.
Yet ,again, that God should help our children with dangerous habits to break and bad friendships, should break away from them. in Jesus’ name. Believe God to set our kids free from all addictions including drugs, drunkenness, gaming, and bet Naija, self abuse, porn, yahoo, yahoo plus and laziness in the pursuit of life. Tell God to lose them from the grip of these vices in Jesus’ name. Amen.