Ten years' barrenness removed Week 22, 2026

 The burden just did not lift off quickly as I prayed that morning before going to work. As I tried rounding off, the unction to pray came on, and so I prayed on, detained in the presence of God longer than usual. Rom 8:26(ESV)  Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. When the unction stopped flowing, I got ready and went to work at the Good Shepherd Specialists’ Hospital where I was a Medical Officer, entered the consulting room, and began seeing patients. That morning in 2013, a woman came to me with complaints I could not make head or tail of. She complained of sensations on her head, which flowed down her neck, sensations on her upper limbs and elsewhere. I tried to get her to characterise the sensations according to the patterns we had learned in medical school, but her description in Igbo just would not fit into any medical pattern I had been taught. Could they be psycho somatisation? A situation where there is anguish in the mind which, being suppressed, now manifests as (sometimes) bizarre symptoms in the body.

Then I heard deep down in my spirit, “Ask her about her children”. I knew it was from the Lord so I asked, “Madam, how are your children? Are they fine?” It was as though the dam burst and she began weeping. Her husband, who was with her, tried to control the situation and rebuked her, asking her no longer to weep. “Anytime the matter is raised she just cries and cries.” I urged him not to restrain her, that that was where the problems lay. Eventually it was the man himself who told the story. They had been married for ten good years without an issue. No child. She had not even conceived so much as to have had a miscarriage. All attempts at conception failed. Her mother-in-law would have none of that and had moved in a year ago to ensure she delivered a child (as if she had the power to force in a baby and cause her to give birth). And so, she was distraught.

The Holy Spirit said to me, “This is the reason why I detained you in the morning while praying. Her miracle was being downloaded. Pray for her, and she will give birth.” I walked over to the door of the consulting room and closed it. I told them the answer lay with God, and as we held hands I prayed. She fell under the anointing there, and I asked her husband to help her up, and we concluded the prayers thereafter.  Being a doctor, I still prescribed for them before they left - basically multivitamins - and then continued the morning’s work

About a year later in 2014, when I came in for afternoon duty, I was told some people had been waiting for me since morning. A man came forward, familiarly smiling at me. Not recognising him but trying not to show it, I smiled back, wondering who it was. A lady followed him with a baby, and an older woman behind her with another baby. “I was the man that came last year to see you; we had infertility, and you prayed for us. This is the result. We have twins! I have been hearing about miracles in churches but believed them to be arranged events. Now it has happened to us. I have come today to give my life to Jesus Christ.” Acts 10:38 (ESV)  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.    

Dr Emeka is a consultant at UNTH

Praying in the name of Jesus Christ Week 21, 2026

 

What does it mean to pray in His name?

There are a few things dug up from the scripture. Jesus Christ specifically asks us to do so: Jn 16:23, 24(ESV)  In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. Have you noticed when an official is sent to represent a higher person that he is given the same treatment as the one he represents? Pray in the name of Jesus and God will give you the same treatment Jesus receives! His name is greater and more powerful than any one and anything. Php 2:9-11(ESV)  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Yes I know He is the one who asked us to do so, but what does it imply?

Look at what happened in David’s time. 1Sam 25:5, 6(MKJV)  And David sent out ten young men. And David said to the young men, Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. And you shall say this... Praying in His name means you are praying those things He asked you to pray, and saying the words He asked you to say. Check the scriptures and see what Jesus asked us to pray for, what Paul and others prayed for other brethren, what he asked believers to pray for one another. Pray that same way, that is praying in the name of Jesus.

Must I say “In Jesus’ name”? People punctuate their prayers so frequently with that phrase.

1Sam 25:9(ESV)  When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. It is important when you start to declare you have come in the name of Jesus Christ (those who are sent to represent a higher official declare it and don’t allow their hosts to assume), and having declared the matter in prayer, wait for the heavens to respond. You are not going to effect the answer yourself. Dt 18:18, 19(ESV)  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. So you see it carries the full authority of Jesus and He is ready to defend the words spoken in His name with all the resources of heaven.

Is there somewhere in the New Testament that was done? You’re quoting the Old Testament.

Yes: Act 3:6(ESV)  Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Expect all these as you pray

O wow, so anyone with this understanding can just pray saying “In Jesus’ name”. It works.

Not anyone. Ask the sons of Sceva.  Only believers have that power of attorney to use His name. Moreover we must watch our relationship with the Holy Spirit so we prove no hinderance. Jn 15:16(ESV)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

Thy will be done Week 20, 2026

 

I don’t understand what you mean by this statement: Stop using prayer as a tool to get what you want from God and turn it into the tool to make you what God wants.

Yes. I want us to make prayer a labour for the will of God. For some, skilful training in prayer knocks out God’s will, God’s timing, and narrowly seeks to bring on the flesh.

Explain in clear terms please.

I will. Consider 2 examples. Mk 10:35-38(ISV)  James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus and told him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you." He asked them, "What do you want me to do for you?" They asked him, "Let us sit in your glory, one on your right and one on your left." But Jesus told them, "You don't realize what you're asking...”Their motivation was selfish and they were using prayer (and their mum used worship) to try to get what they wanted. That’s not how it should be.

So what is wrong with that? They had a conversation and the Lord corrected them.

When the motive is wrong the grace to handle it is absent. The prodigal son knew how to ask for what he wanted. Lk 15:12(ISV)  The younger one told his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So the father divided his property between them. He wasn’t asking for his brother’s inheritance. His own share. But you see he couldn’t handle it. Lk 15:13 (ISV)  A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all on wild living.  Getting his request simply resulted in leaving his father’s presence and squandering the resources. When he repented his prayer was different. He no longer said “Give me”. It was “Make me like one of your hired servants” Lk 15:19(MKJV). Use prayer to make you into what God has planned.

So our prayers should not specify our wishes, just simply say “Thy will be done”?

Far from it. Very far from it. When one asked Jesus for mercy he asked for specifics. Lk 18:38, 41(ISV)  So he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, I want to see again!" I don’t ask “Thy will be done” when hungry or having bills to settle. I know what His will is. We must have a mindset that God is good and wants the very best for us. 1Tm6:17(ESV)  God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. In repenting the prodigal realised his father was very generous even to servants, unfortunately the elder son saw him as stingy! What a contrast. Make prayer a tool of making you what God wants. He wants holiness, so you seek it. He also wants your needs met, including having something to set for your guests, so you seek it. We must find out from the scriptures and waiting on God what is the plan. purpose and timing of God. Then based on that we go ahead to ask. I know God wants me healthy so I boldly ask. 3Jn 1:2(ESV)  Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.  When faced with choices not explicit in the bible as marriage, location, employment etc prayer is my tool in bringing my mind and soul subject to the Spirit of God so as to know what to choose. I am sure whatever He says will be the best. . Is 48:17(GW)  This is what the LORD, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says: I am the LORD your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go.  You see we can never have anything better than the will of God.

The purpose of prayer Week 19, 2026

 

It was a short clip. I don’t know the producer, but what was said caught my attention: The first purpose of prayer is intimacy, not requests. When intimacy is established, other matters follow. Ps 27:4(ESV)  One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. Do you recall the father’s words when the elder son said, “ You have not given me even a goat to celebrate with my friends”? And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours Lk 15:31(ESV). You are always with me. The presence and intimacy were first, and come before material possessions. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Mat 6:33(ESV)  was taught in the context of prayer, you know. We need to practice that in prayer, really.

But asking is very important, and we must not get disciples to believe that once they worship and give thanks, there is no real need to make requests. Giving the impression that the truly spiritual man makes no request, just worships, and those who request are carnal! You do not have, because you do not ask. Jas 4:2(ESV) 

Yes. That is correct. Jesus specifically commands us to ask; that is the way to receiving.  Jn 16:24(ESV)  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. And those who are very intimate with God and manifest the fruit of the Spirit in great abundance still need to ask. Jn15:16(ESV)  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. I agree, but when intimacy is established with God, how and what we ask for changes - in their order and in their content. And we become transformed the more into His image.

What exactly do you mean?

You see, those who were commanded to pray for labourers in Mt 9:37, 38(ESV)  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” are sent out as labourers in Mt 10:5(ESV)  These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go...” As they prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth,” by praying for labourers, they were sent out to be the labourers. Transformation is taking place in them.

And are their needs met when they are thus?

Have you considered Solomon’s prayer? His request to God centred on purpose. God’s purpose for bringing him to the throne. 1Kgs3:9(ESV)  Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” Now that pleased God, and God granted him things he didn’t ask for. 1Kgs 3:13(ESV)  I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. God doesn’t have favourites. He will do the same with you.  Stop using prayer as a tool to get what you want from God and turn it into a tool to make you what God wants. Ps 37:4(ESV)  Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Prayer points Week 18, 2026

 

“When I left this country, my prayer life really diminished. The things we used to pray for had been removed! Here you would pray for electricity, pray for the roads, pray that the vehicles come in on time for you, pray for a good vehicle on your journey that will not break down on the way,” a brother said something like this in a meeting last year.  During a lecture last month, a sister commented, “In Nigeria, we pray when we get to the hospital to meet a doctor who knows what he is doing, not to meet quacks or a midwife who will beat you and say, 'Madam. Push!” I am all for praying, but these prayers are not done when we leave the shores of the country, and there our prayers are less.” Something like that.

In essence, our prayer needs are far less in a well-ordered society down to the point that we sometimes see little need for prayer. I believe this is because we are looking at a narrow aspect of necessary prayer. Lk 11:2, 3(ESV )  And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread," is the pattern for prayer. If our prayers are fewer and we hardly find things to pray when we are in well-ordered societies with vibrant, fully functioning social services, then it means we have missed God’s own prayer needs when our body’s needs were sorted out. No, I don’t mean God is not a partner in our needs. No. Whatever good anyone does to us is received by Him as having been done to Him. But God has peculiar issues He commands us to pray for, which are encapsulated in “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.” and they come first. And they abound in every nation.

Mt 9:37, 38(ESV)  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Jesus has commanded us to pray for labourers; people who will love others, proclaim the message, and nurture new believers. Among church-goers, among Muslims, among kidnappers and bandits, among the LGBTQ community, and so many other fields He has. How exactly does God want us to pray for ourselves, the labourers? Act 4:29(ESV)  And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, Col 4:3, 4(ERV)  Also pray for us. Pray that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message. I am in prison for doing this. But pray that we can continue to tell people the secret truth that God has made known about Christ. Pray that I will say what is necessary to make this truth clear to everyone. I am convinced we need to be praying this way per institution, per people group, and even for persons. 

What of God’s commands to pray for revival? Ps 2:8(ISV)  Ask of me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession. 1Tm 2:1, 4 (ERV)  First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth. There are aspects of prayers that actually increase when we leave the country. Justin Welby, the immediate past Archbishop of Canterbury, revealed in 2023 that he was twice summoned to parliament and the church of England threatened in a bid to force same-sex marriage on her. If that is not persecution, we are simply hiding our faces in the sand. Pray for our leaders. Perhaps transformation and true revival have tarried because our requests focused almost exclusively on Give us each day our daily bread