Effective Family Altar (3) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Effective Family Altar (3)

Dear Reader,

You are welcome once again to this column. If you have been following my teachings since the beginning of this month, I believe God is already doing great things in your life. Last week, I taught on Consistency in Prayer as a tool for establishing lasting peace in your home. This week, I want to show you some of the Benefits of Prayer.

What are the Benefits of Prayer?

1. Direction

Prayer is communicating with God; you speak to Him and he speaks to you. This is where some people miss it. They pray and never wait to hear from God, yet they expect Him to just do what they want. Most times, what people call afflictions in their marriage or homes is nothing but ignorance. The treatment for ignorance is wisdom and understanding. In fact, the Bible says: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: (Proverbs 24:3).

And then, James 1:5 says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Maybe the reason you don’t have a good relationship with your spouse or children is because of something you keep doing or saying that brings tension and discomfort in the home; instead of peace and joy. However, if you are attentive in prayers, God will direct you on how to overcome that issue or lead you to scriptures in His Word that will show you how to come out of that predicament and put an end to the tension. Thus, you need wisdom to handle your marital issues and make them produce your desired results.

If your home is not the heaven you thought it would be, then you have a responsibility to search for a solution. The Bible says that God knows the end of a matter from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He knows all things; so, as you commune with Him in prayers, He delivers the secret of the matters affecting your home into your hands. Learn to listen for directions and instructions from God as you pray.

2. Power for Accomplishment

The Bible says: Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 18:19). As a married man or woman, you have a higher level of unity with your spouse than any two friends can ever have. Your union is recognised and signed by God, so when you offer prayers to Him on any issue at all, He honours your request. The key word in the verse quoted above is “agree”. When a man and his wife agree, tremendous power is released for the accomplishment of their desires. However, if they do not agree, their prayers are hindered (1 Peter 3:7). So, one of the reasons the enemy puts disagreement between couples is so that he can rob them of this prayer advantage.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 also says: And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. God, your spouse and you form a three-fold cord that is not quickly broken. So, as you cooperate with God to establish His purpose for marriage in your home, He honours your family, by ensuring that whatever you desire concerning your home and children is established.

3. Change

Prayer can bring about the long awaited change you desire in your home. Elijah was an ordinary human being like us; but with prayer, he was able to change the climatic conditions of a nation as desired. Maybe you have been going through a season of drought and dryness in your home; earnest, heartfelt prayers can change it to a season of refreshing, fruitfulness and plenty (James 5:17-18). Your prayers can bring changes to the lives of your spouse and children, because the Bible says: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy (1 Corinthians 7:14).

Read carefully this sister’s testimony: “When we were preparing for the Women’s Convention, I prayed to God that I wanted my family renewed. My husband was not saved then, and I did not want to be called the wife of an unbeliever again. So I told God that; and He did a great thing in my life. God changed my husband! During one of the all-night prayer meetings, my husband decided to go with me to church. He gave his life to Christ that day and has now stopped smoking! He is a brand new person!”Efemuaye, L.

Why not take advantage of this powerful weapon of prayer? You will see every unpleasant situation in your marriage and home turn around for good. God is on your side!

However, to see effects in prayer, you must first be born again. This means accepting Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour. To do this, you should say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.