Our first two elements of applications are related and they are:

1. Prayers; and
2. Witnessing.

Consider Matthew 6:5-15.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:5-15

Beloved, prayer is a confession of absolute dependence upon God not to be vaunted in public display or show-off of piety; otherwise it becomes a portrayal of vanity or self-righteousness that is despised by God. Our Father does not show off, He is in secret when it comes to such matters of offertory sacrifice. More, what about vain repetitions? Verse 7 gives us a clue, drawing lessons from 1 Kings 18:21-38, teaching us to make a difference between excessive and pointless utterances devoid of faith.  What’s your prayer practice like? Check yourself how you pray, listen to yourself pray and you will know whether you just repeat yourself without heart faith. Are you speaking to the Lord who loves you endlessly or just performing speech trying to sound spiritual?  Repetitive prayer full of faith is the desire of the heart of our heavenly Father – Psalm 136, 2 Corinthians 4:13, Luke 18:8.

Continuing to the counterpart of witnessing or speaking to others concerning repentance from sin and invitation to the Kingdom of God, have no arguments, just leave when the hearers refuse to receive you (see Luke 10:2-11, noting particularly verses 9, 10). That Scripture did not say cease or stop, rather He commanded, go your ways…continue your assignment! Paul admonished his sons in the faith similarly in 1 Timothy 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 2:16-18 and Titus 3:9-11.

Remember these things and you will walk to His pleasure in the New Year.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash