Set Aside Time to Pray

Hello, welcome to another message titled “Set Aside Time to Pray.”

Still continuing with the Walking in the Fullness of the Holy Spirit series, I’m going to be talking about setting aside time to pray. That is: set aside time to pray.

We know from the Scriptures that Jesus was transfigured when He went to pray with Peter, James, and John. The glory of God came down where He was praying.

Jesus Was Transfigured in Prayer

Matthew 17:1–8

“After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.’

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ He said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’

When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.”

They saw no one because the manifest presence of God had disappeared. The cloud they saw was the manifest presence of God. God visited them in a raw and tangible form.

So when we talk about the fullness of the Holy Spirit, this is what we are talking about. That bright cloud represents the presence of God. You need that cloud. You need the glory of God to fill your inner man and completely saturate you.

It is when you go into prayer, like Jesus did, that the presence of God visits you. Even if you do not visibly see what Jesus and the disciples saw, you are still soaking in the presence of God. You are soaking in His glory.

That glory fills you up inwardly and surrounds your atmosphere. It refreshes you, renews you, revitalizes you, and transforms you into a different person.

Just like Saul in the Old Testament was turned into another man when the Spirit of God came upon him, the presence of God changes a person completely.

Walking in the Fullness of the Holy Spirit

It is not by power or by might. The Scripture said:

“A bright cloud covered them.”

That is the presence of God we are talking about.

If you want to constantly walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you must understand that it is not something casual. Jesus prayed all night. He constantly withdrew to pray.

That is why many people are not truly walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some claim they are, but where is the evidence?

It is always good to tell yourself the truth.

When you are walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you will know it. It is not something you merely claim by faith. It is a reality. It is tangible. It is experiential.

Jesus knew when power had gone out of Him to heal the woman with the issue of blood. The Bible also says:

“The power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.”

Jesus knew when the power was present and when it was not. That is why He never failed.

So do not run away from truth. Pride makes people pretend. If you do not acknowledge your spiritual need, how will you ask God to fill you?

You must acknowledge when you are spiritually empty or lacking oil.

Buy Oil From Jesus

Jesus said in Revelation:

“Come to Me and buy oil… buy gold refined in the fire… buy white garments.”

Jesus is calling us to come to Him for spiritual riches.

Do not say, “I already have everything.” Jesus warned about people who thought they were rich spiritually but were actually poor, blind, and naked.

Acknowledge your true spiritual condition so that you can constantly seek God and walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

When you are constantly filled with the Holy Spirit:

• You will hear the voice of God clearly.
• The fruits of the Spirit will manifest in your life.
• The gifts of the Spirit will become active.
• You will walk like Jesus and Paul walked.

This becomes a daily reality, not an occasional experience.

Be Fascinated With Jesus

Study the life of Jesus constantly.

Jesus Himself should become your fascination.

I am fascinated with Jesus. I study how He lived, how He prayed, how He ministered, and how He walked with the Father.

Sometime ago, the Lord told me:

“Study the healing ministry of Jesus.”

As I studied Him more deeply, I began to understand His lifestyle and prayer life.

When I discovered the way Jesus prayed and obtained victory, I started praying that way too.

Jesus prayed at night.

Paul and Silas also prayed at midnight and sang praises to God.

Prayer Attracts the Presence of God

Acts 16:25

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

They prayed and sang praises. Then the glory of God came down mightily.

There is a way to attract the presence of God. And when that presence comes, nothing can withstand it.

What you need is the constant infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Must Be Your First Love

Jesus wants to be first in our lives.

The Bible says:

“You have forsaken your first love.”

Jesus must become your first love again.

Not an imaginary Jesus created by human imagination, but the true Jesus revealed through the Word and will of God.

To love Jesus means:

• To love His Word.
• To love His will.
• To love His wisdom.
• To love holiness.
• To love obedience.
• To desire His glory.

If you are fascinated with pleasing God, then you are fascinated with Jesus.

Imitate Him in all things.

Pray At Night

1 Samuel 15:11

“Samuel was distressed, and he cried out to the Lord all night.”

Praying at night is important.

It does not necessarily mean staying awake every second of the night, but dedicating a meaningful portion of your night to prayer.

Do it wisely and responsibly. Make sure you still rest properly and care for your body.

For me, even when I worked highly demanding jobs, I still found ways to pray at night while maintaining proper rest.

Your body can adapt to it over time.

The rewards of prayer are greater than the sacrifice.

Long for God in the Night

Isaiah 26:9

“My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently.”

There was a time in my early walk with Christ when I would look forward to nighttime because that was when I would spend intimate moments with the Lord.

I would talk to Him, think about Him, worship Him, and meditate on His personality and His goodness.

Many encounters, visitations, and manifestations happened during those night seasons of prayer.

The Lord wants intimacy with us.

He wants us to genuinely love Him for who He is—not just for what He can give us.

The Lord Wants Intimacy

The Lord once asked me:

“What is it that you like about Me so much?”

And I answered:

“It is Your personality.”

The Lord was pleased with that answer.

God wants us to love His character, His ways, His justice, His mercy, and His holiness.

Even His correction is an expression of His love.

Prayer deepens intimacy with God and fills you with His presence.

Jesus Frequently Withdrew to Pray

Matthew 14:23

“After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone.”

Luke 5:16

“Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.”

Jesus constantly withdrew to pray because He understood that prayer was the key to the presence of God.

Prayer is the battlefield.

Every victory is obtained there.

Learn What Attracts the Presence of God

In my early years walking with God, I noticed that when I read hymns, meditated on worship songs, and praised God deeply, the presence of God would come strongly upon me.

I later realized that these were keys to attracting the presence of God.

Learn what attracts the presence of God and what drives it away.

Prayer and Fasting

Acts 13:3

“Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.”

Acts 14:23

“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord.”

Prayer and fasting are powerful.

Jesus Himself said:

“This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

But fasting should be done wisely and without harming your body.

Paying the Price

The Lord once told me:

“You must pay the price.”

That price is not physical money. It is obedience, prayer, worship, sacrifice of praise, thanksgiving, holiness, and complete surrender to God.

Prayer is an offering to God.

Praise is an offering.

Obedience is an offering.

The Bible says:

“Offer yourselves as living sacrifices.”

This is how we “buy oil” from Jesus—through obedience and fellowship with Him.

Prayer Is Indispensable

The Bible says:

• “Pray without ceasing.”
• “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
• “Pray at all times with all kinds of prayer.”

Every form of prayer matters:

• Praise
• Worship
• Thanksgiving
• Petition
• Communion
• Rejoicing in Christ
• Meditating on the Word

Set aside time to pray daily.

It is through prayer that you become constantly filled with the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

If you want to walk daily in the presence of God, hear His voice clearly, increase in glory, and experience victory in your spiritual life, then you must set aside time to pray.

Prayer is indispensable.

It is not optional.

Jesus prayed. Paul prayed. The apostles prayed. The prophets prayed.

If you want to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you must become a person of prayer.

Prayer

I pray that God gives you the grace to constantly walk in His ways and His will.

May you set aside time to pray.

May you cherish and value prayer.

May you imitate the life of Jesus.

May the Lord Himself be your glory and the lifter of your head.

May He clothe you with humility, praise, and light.

May He lead you from glory to glory and from victory to victory.

May the Lord keep you, strengthen you, and fill you constantly with the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Have a good day. Remain blessed. Bye.

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