SincereMilkDevotional and FaithWatch Reflection

April 1, 2025 Praying in Spirit and in Truth " But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." — John 4:23-24 How can we speak to a Spirit if we do not think and understand like one? God is Spirit and Truth, and those who worship or pray to Him must do so in spirit and in truth. Many people pray out of routine or obligation, but true prayer requires a heart fully and truthfully surrendered to the Holy Spirit. Jesus emphasized this when speaking to the Samaritan woman: prayer is not about location—a mountain or a temple—but about the heart and our connection with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes this kind of worship and prayer possible. He removes distractions, aligns our desires with God's and grants us boldness to approach the throne of grace with confidence. Without Him, our prayers m...

  The Holy Spirit gives Boldness " For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:7 When we pray in the Spirit, we do not pray from a place of fear or uncertainty. Instead, we pray with confidence, knowing that God hears us and responds according to His perfect will. The Holy Spirit emboldens us, transforming our weaknesses into strength and our doubts into unwavering faith. He assures us of God’s faithfulness—who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Through the Holy Spirit, we gain deeper revelation, understanding the mysteries of our relationship with God, our Father. His presence in our prayer and worship affirms our divine fellowship with Him. Prayer is not merely about presenting our needs but about communion with God—being in His presence. There is profound joy in being with God, speaking to Him as a child confides in a loving father. The Holy Spirit elevates...

  The Holy Spirit: Our Guide in Prayer For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God... The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." — Romans 8:14,16 As we continue from where we left off yesterday, we reflect on the essential role of the Holy Spirit in our prayer life. He is our divine guide, leading us in when, where, and what to pray. He teaches us how to pray, what to ask for, and even when to remain silent in His presence. Often, we come before God burdened with needs, fears, and uncertainties, yet the Spirit directs our prayers so they align with God's perfect will. From the very beginning, the devil has sought to exploit any gap in our communion with God. In the Garden of Eden, he subtly twisted God's words, leading Adam and Eve into deception. Their fall was not just due to disobedience but also a lack of wisdom and discernment—gifts that only God provides through His Spirit. Even today, our prayers can be tain...

 Be Led by the Holy Spirit " Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." — Romans 8:26 Prayer is a spiritual exercise, and we cannot truly engage in it without the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enables us to pray according to God’s will, even when we are unsure of what to say. Though prayer involves our physical participation, it is ultimately the Spirit who overcomes the limitations of our flesh, guiding us into alignment with God's heart and will. " But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." — Romans 8:11 When we recognize this truth, we understand how utterly dependent we are on the Holy Spirit. How can we speak to a Spirit if we do not think and understand like...

Pray with Faith and Surrender " Yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42) Jesus gave us the ultimate example of praying according to God’s will in Gethsemane. True faith trusts that God’s plan is best, even when we don’t understand it. In His humanity, Christ experienced deep anguish as He faced the suffering ahead. His flesh longed for a more favorable alternative, yet He surrendered completely to the Father’s will. Though He expressed His desire for the cup to pass, He chose obedience, confessing in faith and trust in God’s perfect plan. Jesus is our greatest example, and we are called to follow Him in all things. He was tempted just as we are, yet He never sinned. He walked by faith and taught us to do the same. When we come to God in prayer, we must believe that He is more than capable of fulfilling His promises. " If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in f...

Trust in God’s Timing " Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." — Psalm 27:14 One important aspect of prayer that we must understand is God’s timing . You may pray earnestly, in alignment with His will and purpose for your life, yet not see immediate answers. This does not mean the answer will not come—it may simply be a matter of timing. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows the perfect moment for His plans to unfold. Waiting is often part of the process . As the saying goes, God’s time is the best time  —and we must learn to trust and wait. This period of waiting is where our patience and faith in God are tested. > "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." — Ecclesiastes 3 :1 Our God is a God of order and purpose. He never acts by accident or in haste. He has a divine plan for each of us and knows precisely when to bring it to fulfillment. Even before we ask, He is aware of our needs. Yet, our prayers se...

 Pray with the Right Motives " When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (James 4:3) The issue of our hearts and intentions has to be dealt with and made sure it rightly align with divine purpose for us to pray and get the attention of heavens. God examines the heart of man whenever we call to Him in prayers and not just the physical gymnastics done for humans' applause. Prayers driven by selfish desires may not align with God's will. Many get involve in prayers and fasting for self glorification that they may boast of it among brethren and friends that they prayed for hours and fasted for days.  For instance, a brother embarked on a long hours of fasting till about 11pm all because his roommate shared with him that he fasted till up to 9pm before eating. He went 2 hours extra to proof to the other party that he could do more. The intention of his fasting was not to pray specifically for a...

 Praying According to His Will  - Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1John.5.14  There is a God's standard and desire for every one of us. Before the creation of the world He knew about our existence and while we were being born He already had planned purpose and will with which we should align our lives and desires. If we want Him to answer our prayers, it is necessary for us to learn to pray according to His will. And in this context, our first challenge is knowing His will for our lives and then pattern our prayers and request in that form and direction. Praying according to God’s will means aligning our desires and requests with His purpose and plan. The Bible gives us guidance on how to do this. God’s will is revealed in His Word. When we pray according to the word of God, we can be confident that we are asking for things that align with His character and purpose. The word of God is always avail...

  Prayerful but Diabolical    - Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." Num.22.5-6.  A cursory look into the new normal in the modern church is what I call Diabolical Christianity. A typical example of syncretism. A mixture of traditional practice done in Jesus name. The Ballam kind of prophets who allegedly hear from God or the gods but at the same time manipulative. They love to pray, they can prophesy and even being consulted by others for vision and special prayer but their spiritual experiences are combinations of fetish...

Intercession by Leaders for Followers And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Luke.22.31-32. This statement of Jesus really struck my heart, that Satan has asked for Peter, that he may sift him. The devil never spare any man. His desire is to steal,  kill and destroy. To the extent that everyone he couldn't touch because of God’s shield and protection, he seeks permission to test, try and remove from that divine protecting shield. The devil knows he cannot touch anyone dwelling in the secret place of the Lord and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Like he sought permission to afflict Job, so he did to Peter, Judas and every member of the Church militant.  God allowed him to test Job with several dreary afflictions that most of us in the Church today cannot endure. Because He trusted and pe...

  Praying for our Leaders   Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,1Tim.2.1-3 The scriptures expressly require every believer to firstly pray and intercede on behalf of our leaders, be it political, religious or wherever. As Christians we are called to reconcile the world to God. We are God's ambassadors called to represent Christ here on earth.  We are not supposed to be caught up in the distractions that have taken charge of the attention and thoughts of a typical unbeliever. We are not meant to engage in the act of complaining or protesting like the world.  Rather,  we are to go to our Father in the secret place. He rules in every human affairs.  Has the heart of Kings and rulers in His hand. He e...

  The Ministry Gifts and Intercession   " And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ", Eph.4.11&12. The Lord Jesus gives gifts to all believers for the edification of the Church.  The Ministry gifts are products of the in filling of the Holy Spirit of God in us. The disciples were impacted with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and there manifested the power through speaking in unknown tongues. After that experience their lives never remain the same. The Apostles were commissioned,  Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastor were made of those 120 disciples at the upper room. The Apostles witnessed Christ with power, sign and wonders,  converting many souls to the Kingdom of God through His grace. One thing I want to call our attention to is how long they waited interceding,  stayed together in on...

Every Believer is an Intercessor 1Tim.2.1 - Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men , The ministry of Intercession is not peculiarly limited to any specific individuals or some group of people.  We are all called to pray for one another. Firstly for our leaders both political and religious.  Leaders are to pray for the followers and viz-a-viz. The house of God is primarily a place of prayer,  prayers are to be offered to God in the temple for one another. Just like the physical Temple built for the purpose of prayer so is our body, being the temple of the Lord and should be used as an instrument of prayers and supplications. There is therefore a cause for concern seeing how distracted the Church is from our primary assignment as intercessors and watchmen for the world.  Standing in the gap for the people and the nation is the first duty of the Church. Many of us have failed in this line...

The Secret Ministry of Intercession   Ezek.22.30 - And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Intercession is a prayer to God on behalf of another person, ministry or nation. God is searching for men in the secret place to pray. People who may not be at the war front like Joshua but would wait with Moses on the mountain like Aaron and Hur, making sure his weary hands are kept uplifted until the battle is over. The secret place is the place where the battle of life is won. This is one of the most important ministries or departments in the Kingdom that every ministry and minister should give  serious attention. It  is very pertinent to the growth and sustainability of any ministry or mission.  The devil attacks this department of the Church to the extent that some intercessors had abandoned their calling to the secret place while  contending with pe...

  Serving from the Secret Place  But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. Matt.6.3-4 . In a generation where most people wouldn't want any act of service to God or humanity except when it's publicised or announced. Most Church members  want their  names mentioned before responding to calls to serve. Everyone loves the pulpit ministry but most people can't pay the hidden sacrifice. They love public recognition more than heavenly recognition.  Many do not serve to be rewarded by God but to be applauded by men. I see a need to re-examine how our service to God is done especially at a time like this when fame and public approval seem to appeal to many more than God’s words and commands.  The Secret Place is the best place to serve, planting season is often  silent and hidden. Sow your seeds w...

  The Hiding Place of Refuge  Ps.91.2 - I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." The secret place of God is the hiding place for all His children. It's the place of our sure refuge, shelter and defence against all enemies' assaults. When the devil roars around like lion seeking whom to devour, we are not perturbed because only those homeless and without shelter can fall prey to the predator. God wants all of us in His secret place because there we find salvation and rest for our souls.  The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.  Prov.18.10 The arms of flesh will definitely fail. The horses and chariots, the amulets and ammunitions can't fight against the spiritual wickedness in the high places. Many people forget the Lord in the face of threats and intimidation of the power of darkness. In a generation where many thought God is often too slow to protect,  they run in error of desp...

 Our Father's Dwelling Place Matt.6.6 - But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. In continuation of our study on the secret place,  today we'll meditate on it as the dwelling place of God, our Father.  The secret place is the place to find the Father. God doesn't dwell in the midst of rowdiness or chaos. He is a God of orderliness, seclusion, serenity and calmness.  Every prophet of old found Him in their moments of aloneness and separation. There are distractions out there in the crowd,  but Jesus the author and finisher of our faith will often withdraw from the crowd to a solitary place to commune with the Father.   Luke.5.16 - But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer Yes,  God is everywhere but His attention is mostly available for His chosen vessels in the secret place. Although, He mini...

 The Secret Place   Ps.91.1 - He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The secret place is your private life. Everyone has a private life, where you are all alone. The private life of every believer speaks volumes on how his life will be in reality. What you do in your secret place will determine how your whole life will pan out. If you dedicate your private life to mundane things, that determines your whole life's focus and reality. The secret place is a part of our lives that needs serious attention and that is why we are going to spend a few days talking about it.  If there is a part of our lives that needs all the efforts to improve daily, to explore and maximise, a part where time wasting is a great disservice, a part of us where we determine our future, career and eternity. It is that private part of us. As we   humans are created with this opportunity so God has His own. Jesus was a man who adored H...

  Pray in Secret   Matt.6.6 - But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. The Pharisaic character of showing off is now becoming the order of the day among believers and in many churches. We love to publicise every pious act. Worshipping God is supposed to be a spiritual thing, done in spirit and in truth. We need to note what Jesus Himself warned the disciples against. We are in a generation where secret intercessors are very scarce. Some intercessors now want to be paid and recognised by the councils.  Personal private prayer altar before God, kneeling in the secret to pray is still highly revered by our Father who sees in secret.   Jesus Christ advised the disciples as He does to modern day believers,  Matt.6.5 - "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogue...

First thing First-A Father-Son Relationship  Matt.6.8 -9 " Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your nam e. An established Father-son relationship with God is the first step to effective prayer life. Prayer is a two way affair that involves listening and speaking, giving and taking, knowing and being known. How do you communicate with someone you don't have access to? How do you get someone you don't know to do your bidding? And when you are oppurtuned to access Him, what do you ask for? First thing first, wisdom is the principal thing, in all your gettings, get understanding. Knowing Him as a Father is the first and most important prerequisite to answer prayers. A touch on Solomon's prayer in Ikgs 3, shows us how God is delighted when we know what's more important to pray about. As a Father, He knows all our needs before we ask an...

 Knowing How  to Pray Luke.11.1 - Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples ." Prayer is worship. Worship is all about prayer. Prayer is having a communion or communication with God. An act of conversing in the Spirit with God. Prayer is a spiritual act that involves physical expressions and spiritual understanding.  Understanding the act of praying is essential to building an effective and efficient Prayer life.  One of the reasons we are often frustrated and tired of praying is because we really do not understand what prayer is. Many of us misconstrue the act of prayer as something noisy, a verbal or vocal expression of our desires to God which could sometimes be overly  mechanical or stereotyped exercise done in a particularly organised sacred place to a distanced, inaccessible deity.  Many people do not feel they have prayed...

 Praying Without Ceasing   1Thess.5.17 -18-  Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. One thing that is very pertinent to our vision and mission is consistency.  God is delighted in us and in our consistent walk with His. Like the breath we breathe, it's secret is consistency.. The moment your heart stop pumping that's death.  Studying the word of God is like our daily meal, the human body never cease to ask for food and water,  so our spiritual life will never survive without the word of God and prayer. Jesus emphasizes this in Luke 18:1-8 with the story of the widow who got her request from the ungodly judge because of her persistency. We are encouraged never to give up regardless of how we feel per time. Prayers is not about when it feels comfortable.  Men ought to pray always and never faint. Our God is consistent and persistent.  He has never taken a break or got a leave from being ...

  Meditating on the Word  Josh.1.8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Our thought pattern is very important to God. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. No wonder Paul advocates that our hearts should be renewed. Rom. 12.:2. Guide your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life. Prov. 4:23. Spending time mediating is one important act of religion but what we meditate on is an issue to give all attention.  As believers, we are expected to meditate on the Word of God day and night. Apart from taking time to read or do thorough studies on the Word, we are expected to commit time alone with God, meditating on the Word. This is the time when our hearts and minds are opened to divine instructions and deep spiritual revelations....