DAILY STRENGTH DEVOTIONAL - JUNE 24th, 2016

Take away the stone

(Day 5 of the 5-day fasting/ prayers)

Scripture Reading: John 11:39

As we round off our five-day mid-year fasting and prayer today, the Lord Jesus is telling you to take away the stone, so that you can receive bountiful harvest of miracles. Brethren, I can imagine several days before Lazarus died Mary and Martha were praying, hoping, asking, dreaming and begging that Jesus would come and heal their brother. But He didn’t. And Lazarus died. Now, their prayers would have to be that Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead. Although they knew Jesus could do it, this prayer still required tremendous faith. They prayed and prayed and prayed, but never received what they were asking for.  Jesus finally came to see them. Mary and Martha both expressed their frustration thus, “If you had been here he would not have died.” At this point they accepted the death of their brother and were ready to move on. They had processed his death and knew that life wouldn’t be the same and that Jesus simply didn’t answer their prayers.

Then Jesus, after expressing deep sadness and emotion of losing his friend, came to Martha and said, “Take away the stone.” I want to do a miracle. I want to do the impossible. Despite how long it has been, how much you’ve prayed, how you thought it would work out…I want to do an impossible miracle.

Then Martha responds by saying “But, Lord…he stinks…he has been there for four days.”But, Lord. I’ve been asking, praying and hoping you would come through and NOW YOU WANT TO DO A MIRACLE? Why not yesterday? Why not when he was alive? Why now? But Lord? He has been dead for a long time. Come on Jesus, because you didn’t grant my request, life stinks. It’s got a bad odour. You want me to do what?

Dear friends in Christ, “Take away the stone.” Maybe there are things in your life that are dead, stinky, old, dead and gone and you have stopped praying, hoping and dreaming. You’ve quit. Your faith has gone stale. Your hopes have been dashed. You have simply given up. Now, all you have are excuses about how bad it is.

Take the stone away means: Despite how long you’ve been praying, despite how long you’ve been asking, despite how impossible it may seem at this point….Jesus wants to do a miracle. He wants to change your life. He wants to do what He promised He would do it so that His Father’s name shall be glorified.Don’t give up faith. Don’t stop believing in His goodness. It may not feel as though He is around to help in your current situation, but the truth is He is. Have faith in this word today “Take the stone away”,  take the stone of unbelief away for it hinders the miracle Jesus want to work in your life, Keep having faith. And don’t give up.

Prayer Points:

1. Thank the Lord for today’s reflection
2. Pray for conducive atmosphere of miracles, signs and wonders.
3. THEN, TAKE THE PRAYERS ON FINANCIAL BREAKTHROUGH AND TERMINATION OF SATANIC COVENANT ( Take seriously and expect a miracle)

Exercise: Pray for the success of the Cross-over program at the Holy Family Catholic Church, 22, Road, FESTAC, Lagos, holding Thursday June 23^rd to Saturday June 26^th2016.

Memory Verse: Luke 8:39