DCLM Daily Manna 9 May 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — When The Spirit Is Quickened
TOPIC: When The Spirit Is Quickened (DCLM Daily Manna 9 May 2023)
KEY VERSE: “Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness” (Psalm 119:40).
TEXT: Psalm 119:33-40 (KJV)
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
MESSAGE:
When all a man desires from God is a spiritual uplift that would make him abandon worldly pursuits and seek His kingdom and righteousness, he begins to attract the riches of Christ. This is the state in which the writer of our text found himself.
Inspired by this gracious teaching, the psalmist backs away from the world and, line by line, in his prayer, only asks our heavenly Father, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart”. There is no quest for the carnal as he is cognisant of the supremacy of the spiritual in the affairs of humanity.
Our prayers reflect where we stand in the kingdom of God. If we storm His throne with pleas for only butter and bread, and ironically with scant interest in necessary food for our souls, we are not passing the right signals as believers. If we pray back-to-sender supplications asking God to kill our so-called enemies, we are not being faithful followers of Christ. Our communion with God in prayer reveals the state of our spirit, whether it is quickened or one that is slumbering and insensitive to the spiritual.
Among a race in West Africa, there is a proverb which describes God as the King with the limitless capacity to listen to a cacophony of petitions from all over the universe all at once. That cannot be disputed but this caveat must be added: He also has the monumental ability to sift what reaches His realm. He only grants answers to pleas in accordance with His will and for our spiritual growth and eternal benefit.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Our prayers reflect our perception of and commitment to God’s kingdom.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Corinthians 1-4
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
