THE COVENANT NATION
Preacher: Pastor Poju Oyemade
Topic: Aligning With God’s Will Through Prayer & Meditation
Prayer is not about convincing God to approve what we have already decided. It begins with a yielded heart.
God, like a responsible Father, has already made provision for His children. 2 Corinthians 12:14 says, “…the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”
Paul prayed repeatedly concerning the thorn in his flesh, but God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for thee…” — 2 Corinthians 12:7–9.
This teaches us an important principle:
The hand of faith in prayer comes to receive what the heart of grace has already provided.
God knows our spiritual DNA. He knows what He placed inside us and what will bring His purpose for our lives to fulfilment. So we come into His presence with thanksgiving, worship and surrender — Psalm 100:4.
As we worship, pray in the Spirit and spend time in the Word, certain scriptures begin to speak directly to our situations. Like Elijah, we begin to hear “the sound of abundance of rain” — 1 Kings 18:41.
But hearing the Word is not enough.
Hebrews 4:2 tells us that the Word did not profit some because it was not mixed with faith.
When God gives you a promise, begin to see yourself in that promise. Speak words that agree with it. Don’t continue describing yourself by your present limitations.
If God says you are expanding, begin to see expansion. If you need wisdom, declare: “Christ has been made unto me wisdom” — 1 Corinthians 1:30.
If you need direction, remember that the Holy Spirit “will show you things to come” — John 16:13.
If you feel inadequate, remember that you have an anointing that abides in you — 1 John 2:27.
Behold the person God says you are.
James describes God’s Word as a mirror. Don’t look into that mirror and then forget what manner of person you have seen — James 1:22–25.
Meditation therefore involves speaking and seeing. Speak God’s Word and allow it to form the picture within you.
Then ask:
“Lord, what must I do to bring into manifestation what You have shown me?”
Pray to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding — Colossians 1:9. Pray also that the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened — Ephesians 1:17–18.
And as you walk towards the promise, watch your reactions.
Don’t allow anger, offence, fear or emotions to make you respond wrongly. You don’t always know how today’s encounter is connected to tomorrow’s opportunity. Respond with wisdom.
Spiritual movement starts with a song.
Begin praising God for what He has shown you. Thank Him from the standpoint of His promise. As you worship and give thanks, light comes and the practical steps you need to take become clearer.
Then guard your thought life.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 tells us to cast down imaginations and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
The battle often happens in our thoughts.
When the thought comes:
“It won’t work.”
“You don’t have enough.”
“This is bigger than you.”
“What if you fail?”
That is not the time to surrender to the thought. That is the time to use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God — Ephesians 6:17–18.
Speak the Word.
The Word you meditate on when there is no battle prepares you for the moment the battle comes.
“Be instant in season, out of season…” — 2 Timothy 4:2.
So when fear, anxiety, discouragement or a contrary thought comes, answer it immediately with what God has said.
The process is simple:
Yield → Worship → Pray in the Spirit → Search the Word → Receive revelation → Meditate → Speak the Word → See yourself in the promise → Praise God → Guard your thoughts → Respond with the Word.
Don’t keep confessing who circumstances say you are.
Behold who God says you are, and speak accordingly.
🙏 Prayer:
Father, help me to yield completely to Your will.