God is indeed always good and he knows what is best for us, even before we ask. He is all knowing! However, he demands perseverance, persistence, patience and most of all trust from us. Prayer is essential; it is the key that unlocks all doors! Prayer is communicating with God. Prayer is a Dialogue! One thing is certain; there is no network failure when it comes to kneeling before our God in prayer. No wonder, Psalm 138 tells us,

  "I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, you have heard the words of my mouth...I thank you

For your faithfulness and love...On the day I called, you answered...your love, O Lord,

is eternal, discard not the work of your hands". Sing: "God is good, he has done me well O my soul...praise the Lord"

 You cannot do it alone; don't be tired of bothering God and storming heaven with your prayerful wishes for yourself and others. We need God, we belong

To Him!!! We need persistent prayer to unlock every impossibility, "With God

all things are indeed possible”. Sing: "Aka aka ya, aka Jehovah..." (The arm of the Lord does great things, the display of his splendour I see all around me, the stream of life that never runs dry...)

 Abraham our father in faith teaches us in Gen.18:20-32, the importance of intercessory prayers. Hence, the persistent prayers of a few just men/women would suffice to save many unjust; for God is merciful. Let us keep praying not only for Nigeria in distress, but the world now in distress. (A lot has gone wrong - we have put God aside and enthroned our selfish will). William Mcgill says, "The value of persistent prayer is not that God will not hear us, but that we will finally hear God". Let us learn to listen and equally ask untiringly.

 Don't just talk about prayer, go on your knees now and do it! Creating and spending some quiet moments before the Blessed Sacrament. Even when you don't know what to ask, just be there to listen! Trust your God in prayer and he will make a way for you soon. He promised to give us "each day our daily bread, and to forgive us our sins". Sing: "He has promised, he will

never fail...". He offered himself on the cross to free us from sin and shame; and to bring us new life as St. Paul reminds us in Col.2:12-14.

 Note: "Pray until something happens! Don't get tired. God wants us to bombard Him with our petitions every day. Never stop asking. Never stop knocking. Those who do not knock will never find out what is on the other side of d door." (Fr. J. Pichappilly).

 May God, in His infinite mercy, grant us the grace and strength to carry on this new week; and never get tired in our struggle until something good happens. Your testimony is near! Just trust and obey.

 Happy Sunday in advance.

Fr. Stephen Balogun

Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan

‎