MARCH 4, 2024

DISCIPLINE YOUR BODY

1 Corinthians 9:27
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

With our hearts, we receive the Word of God, meditate, and receive faith, which becomes the bedrock of our walk with God. However, our flesh will never understand the will of God. In fact, the Bible says that the flesh and the spirit always go in opposite directions (Gal. 5:17). This puts us in a peculiar situation.

Many times, when you seek to do the will of God, the flesh will prove uncooperative. For example, you know you ought to pray but also feel tired and sleepy at the same time, or you feel the nudge of the Spirit to preach the Gospel, yet you suddenly cannot find the courage to. The Apostle Paul in our opening text today states clearly what you must do when your flesh gets in the way of compliance to God’s Word – bring it into subjection!

If you know you ought to pray, do not listen to the dictates of the flesh. Instead, coerce it. Making an excuse of tiredness or sleepiness when you ought to study the Word or head to Church would only rob you of spiritual benefits and blessings. Hence, beat your body when you need to, and do God’s will, nonetheless. When you set out in the direction of discipline, the Holy Ghost will strengthen you to prevail over the flesh.

DAILY PRAYER GUIDE

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Startup Prayer: Father in the name of Jesus, I apply for the strength of your Spirit in my inner man that will cause me to prevail over the flesh daily, that I may do your will in all things, in Jesus Name.

PRAYER FOR A NATION – SUDAN
Sudanese are mainly Muslims. The nation is yet to recover from physical damage from bombing, fire, and poverty caused by wars. There is a strong need for the training of church leaders in the nation.

Prayer for the nation: Father in the name of Jesus, we ask that you will send more labourers into the harvest field of the nation Sudan, that those you have ordained to be saved may be reaped into the Kingdom, in the name of Jesus.

Prayer for the leaders:Father in the name of Jesus, we pray for the influence of your spirit upon the leaders and officials of government, that they will know how to lead the nation in godliness and fear of the Lord.

PRAYER FOR ISRAEL – (Ps 122:6)
Father in the name of Jesus, we ask today that there will be peace in Jerusalem and that your purposes be established in that city. Amen (Ps 122:6)

PRAYER FOR UNITY IN THE CHURCH
Father in the name of Jesus, we come against every form of attack of Satan against the church, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER FOR SOULS/ REVIVAL
Father in the name of Jesus, we ask for angelic support in all our outreaches, leading to the salvation of many, in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE STUDY
Ezekiel 45 & 46, Psalm 82, John 6