When you take time to pray, what is it like? How do you approach the Throne of God with your petitions and prayers? Do you just pray to see where the words splatter?
When somebody aimlessly prays a prayer, I say that they are “spouting off” prayers. It’s almost like people gather up all the good-sounding words they’ve heard and then spout ’em off. They pray just to see where the words may splatter.
But I don’t believe God gets much enjoyment hearing His children spout off somebody else’s words…especially when they do it just because they feel they have to.
What about you? Have you ever found yourself doing that? And ask yourself this: do you think God enjoys hearing His kids splatter words at Him that they don’t really believe? No way! We’ve got to give God a little more credit than that!
Here’s a one-liner I heard and I had to shove in here: “Many people give God credit, but very few give Him cash!” Ha! Isn’t that the truth?!
Spouting off some kind of insincere prayer is like shooting dice. You hope that you get lucky and win the answer to your prayers but figure it’s a game of chance and you’ve got a 50/50-shot.
Prayers that sound good but have no personal meaning don’t bring about a manifestation because there isn’t faith involved. And faith is what brings the answer home to you!
All God is asking for is for you to put forth a little effort!
All He wants is for you to desire Him and think about Him enough to want to talk to Him. He wants to hear your voice. But not just your voice; He wants to hear your heart. He’s willing to share His true self with you.
Are you willing to do the same with Him?
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Jesse Duplantis, minister of the Gospel, motivational speaker, television personality, and best-selling author, has been in full-time ministry since 1976 and is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries, located in the Greater New Orleans area of south Louisiana in the United States of America. With over four decades of sharing his unique blend of humor and faith around the world, generations of believers have been inspired by his messages and countless numbers have come to know Jesus Christ as Savior through his ministry.
Known for his unflinching, status-quo-breaking messages and humorous take on experiences in the life of the believer, Jesse continues to draw large audiences of believers through social media, television, and meetings held around the world. With speaking engagements booked years in advance, Jesse Duplantis continues to keep an intense traveling schedule, flying throughout the United States and the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With no booking agents pursuing meetings for him and no set fees imposed upon churches for speaking engagements, Jesse chooses his outreach meetings based on the same two criteria he always has: invitations that come in and prayer over each one. This uncommon way of scheduling in today’s world means Jesse’s many followers may find him speaking in some of the largest churches and venues in America and the world, as well as a great many small and growing congregations, too. No church is too big or small for the Holy Spirit, as he says.
Side by side with his wife Cathy Duplantis, the co-founder and chief of staff of Jesse Duplantis Ministries and the senior pastor of Covenant Church in Destrehan, Louisiana, Jesse continues to fulfill his life’s calling by daily taking up the Great Commission of Jesus Christ: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Through social media, television broadcasts, books, and other ministry products, as well as through many evangelistic meetings, the JDM website, the JDM app, and Voice of the Covenant magazine, Jesse Duplantis continues to see growth in his ministry and expand each year while maintaining his roots. Jesus is the center of his life. The salvation of lost people and the growth of believers is the purpose of his ministry. And for both he and his wife, every day is another day to “Reach People and Change Lives, One Soul at a Time.”