FEBRUARY 7: “Building Intimacy in Prayer: Deborah’s Model”

Deborah was a wife, mom, judge, prophetess and leader of Israel. She was God’s instrument of deliverance during the time of the judges. It was a dark period in Israel’s history, when “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6). The time was characterized by defeat, decline and disobedience, which left the people barren and joyless. It was during this time, that the song and prayer of Deborah and Barak, was written as a testament to the Lord’s mercy and faithfulness to shine His face on His people.

In our text for today, the song and prayer of Deborah and Barak contained prayers of praise to God. It also contained a prayer of confession when she said “They chose new gods” (v8). Most importantly, the song contained the secret to her success, which is captured in the last verse 31 “So may all your enemies perish, Lord! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” In this line, Debroha compared her prayer life to that of the sun.

Do what the sun does each day. Faithfully, day in and day out, the sun does the job God gave it to do, consistently, predictably, without varying. Yes, THIS is the secret to cultivating a strong prayer walk. Simply spend time persistent in prayer. When a crisis comes, you will be prepared. As you step out today, remember that to secure the confidence you need in times of crisis, you have to be consistent in the place of prayer.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sometimes the cares of the day seem to multiply, while the blessings fade so quickly. Our bodies grow tired and our minds even more tired. Jesus, help us. Give us the strength to stay in the place of prayer consistently in Jesus’ name, Amen.