WEDNESDAY, 8TH JANUARY, 2025
PRAYER IN THE NIGHT WATCHES – Pastor Chris
Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children… (Lamentations 2:19).
Another mystery revealed to us in the Word is a secret about prayer that God’s people need to understand. In Lamentations 2:19, we see a situation where the people needed deliverance for their children. Observe that the prophet didn’t just say “Cry out; rather, he said, “Arise, cry out in the night….” There was a specificity; it had to be at night.
There’s something about praying in the night. Even though He didn’t say you should pray every night, there’re specific times when the Holy Spirit will lead you to pray in the night; that’s why walking with the Spirit is so important. Night here isn’t just 9pm or 10 pm; it’s the wee hours of the morning, at the beginning of the watches, that’s after 12 midnight.
Notice what He tells you to do at that time of the night: “…pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord…” (Lamentations 2:19). This is no casual prayer; you pour out your heart before God. Then, what else? “Lift up thy hands toward Him for the life of thy young children.” Some parents have faced situations where a child had become wayward or errant, delinquent and unruly, ensnared by the devil. Don’t stand by helplessly, as if you can’t bring about a change in that child’s life; deal strongly in prayer and deliver your son or daughter.
Get up at midnight and pray! Use this secret of prayer that I’m sharing with you now. Lift up your hands and pray that child back into the will of God. Declare that he or she is turned away from the world’s influences, drawn to the Word, and inspired by the things of the Kingdom. Declare that Satan has nothing in your child and that henceforth, the visions of the Spirit will be kindled in the heart of that child, imbuing him or her with the boldness and courage to fulfil divine purpose with joy.
Perhaps it’s sickness or disease that has taken hold of that child; you must deliver that child in prayer. Pray this way and the Lord will intervene in the situation and restore the child to perfection. The instruction is for you to pour out your heart and lift up your hands toward God at night. This is how you take charge and bring deliverance to your children. Hallelujah!
PRAYERDear Father, I pray against every influence of darkness that seeks to capture the hearts of children and young people, including peer pressure, negative media and worldly ideologies. I declare that they’re walking in the light and rejecting every unfruitful work of evil as they walk in righteousness and fulfil their purpose in Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 63:6
When I remember thee upon my bed, [and] meditate on thee in the [night] watches.
Psalm 119:62
At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
Luke 6:12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 6:19-7:1-6 & Genesis 20-22
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 4:12-25 & Genesis 8
