Page 4 - 07 November 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 7 NOVEMBER 2025

You can download the free app EDWJ via Play Store. They have ambition, there you find
disorder and every evil
included two versions of daily reading on the App, Contemporary
practice.
(New authors and a new format) and the Classic (The original Selwyn
Hughes devotionals): Proverbs 9:10: The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of
All of us, at some point, have great call of God on his life, wisdom, and knowledge of
known a 'know-it-all'. If we're he needed God's wisdom. In t h e H o l y O n e i s
more, and then after a little honest, we've probably all all the twists and turns understanding.
while you will see me," and been one at some point! But of life, we too must 2 Chronicles 1:7-12:
the consequence of being a
"Because I am going to the recognise that we don't That night God appeared to
know it all is when we
Father"?' They kept asking, know best, and ask God for Solomon and said to him,
'What does he mean by "a assume we know everything, His gift of wisdom. We can 'Ask for whatever you want
we actually miss out on
little while"? We don't godly wisdom. We actually then live out the plans God me to give you.' Solomon
understand what he is has for our lives. answered God,
miss out on Him!
saying.' Jesus saw that they
Although over the while I believe also in me. My wanted to ask Him about Our verses for today show An action to take: Whether 'You have shown great
have been referring to the Father's house has many the connection between it's a big life decision or a kindness to David my father
this, so he said to them, 'Are
points I am making on rooms; if that were not so, you asking one another what humility - where we s m a l l b u t c o n f u s i n g and have made me king in
building an effective prayer would I have told you that I I meant when I said, "In a recognise we are not God - scenario, ask God for the gift his place. Now, LORD God,
life as 'suggestions', you will, am going there to prepare a and wisdom - where we of wisdom in handling it. let Your promise to my father
I am sure,realise that some place for you? And if I go and little while you will see me no realise that there is One who A prayer to make: Lord, You David be confirmed, for you
of the things I am calling prepare a place for you, I will more, and then after a little knows best. So, if we want to and You alone are God. You have made me king over a
'suggestions' are actually come back and take you to while you will see me"? Very be wise, we must first and You alone know best. people who are as numerous
divine commands. Today's be with me that you also may truly I tell you, you will weep humble ourselves and Help me deeply know that as the dust of the earth. Give
'suggestion' is in that be where I am. You know the and mourn while the world recognise we aren't always and live accordingly. Amen. me wisdom and knowledge,
category - present your way to the place where I am rejoices. right. God is. that I may lead this people,
petitions to God in and going.' Thomas said to Him, You will grieve, but your grief Proverbs 9 says that 'the fear Memory Verse: 'Do not let for who is able to govern this
through the peerless and 'Lord, we don't know where will turn to joy. A woman of theLord is the beginning any unwholesome talk come great people of yours?' God
precious name of Jesus. Our you are going, so how can of wisdom'. Fear of the Lord out of your mouths, but only said to Solomon, 'Since this
text for today makes this we know the way?' Jesus giving birth to a child has is when we recognise His what is helpful for building is your heart's desire and you
point perfectly clear - we are answered, 'I am the way and pain because her time has holiness, His 'set apartness', others up according to their have not asked for wealth,
to offer our petitions to God the truth and the life. No one come; but when her baby is that He is God and we are needs, that it may benefit possessions or honour, nor
in Jesus' name. comes to the Father except born she forgets the anguish not. When we enter into that those who listen.' (Ephesians for the death of your
because of her joy that a
enemies, and since you have
But what does it mean to through me. If you really child is born into the world. humility of heart, we begin to 4:29) not asked for a long life, but
pray in Christ's name? Well, it know me, you will know my So with you: now is your time see things the way He sees Further study: for wisdom and knowledge
means more than just Father as welt. From now on, of grief, but I will see you them. It allows us to to govern my people over
attaching His name to the you do know him and have again and you will rejoice, understand the ways of His James 3:13-16: Who is whom I have made you king,
end of our prayers, for quite seen him.' Philip said, 'Lord, and no one will take away kingdom and His desires for wise and understanding therefore wisdom and
clearly His name could be show us the Father and that your joy. In that day you will the world. among you? Let them show knowledge will be given to
joined on to prayers that are will be enough for us.' Jesus In the Old Testament, when it by their good life, by deeds you. And I will also give you
crudely and utterly selfish. answered: 'Don't you know no longer ask me anything. the Lord offers King done in the humility that wealth, possessions and
Praying in the name of Jesus me, Philip, even after I have Very truly I tell you, my Father Solomon anything he could comes from wisdom. But if honor, such as no king who
means praying according to been know me, Philip, even will give you whatever you ask for, Solomon asks for you harbour bitter envy and was before you ever had and
the character of Christ, or after I have been among you ask in My name. Until now wisdom. selfish ambition in your none after you will have.
praying prayers that He such a long time? Anyone you have not asked for hearts, do not boast about it
could pray if He were in our who has seen me has seen anything in my name. Ask Solomon was already a great or deny the truth. Such James 1:5: If any of you
shoes. God can only answer the Father. How can you say, and you will receive, and king, but, rather than ask 'wisdom' does not come lacks wisdom, you should
prayer if it is in accord with "Show us the Father"? Don't your joy will be complete. God for something that down from heaven but is ask God, who gives
the spirit of Jesus it is in you believe that I am in the would make him more e a r t h l y, u n s p i r i t u a l , generously to all without
accord with the spirit of Father, and that the Father is Matthew 18:15-20: 'If your powerful or famous, he demonic. For where you finding fault, and it will be
Jesus Christ. No matter how in me? The words I say to brother or sister sins, go and recognised that to fulfil the have envy and selfish given to you.
hard you pray 'in the name of you I do not speak on my point out their fault, just
Jesus', you will never get own authority. Rather, it is between the two of you. If bows. After I looked things
God to do anything that is the Father, living in me, who they listen to you, you have over, I stood up and said to the
not Christlike. is doing his work. Believe me won them over. But if they nobles, the officials and the
when I say that I am in the will not listen, take one or rest of the people, “Don't be
And it is not just that He Father and the Father is in two others along, so that afraid of them. Remember the
won't do it - He can't do it. It me; or at least believe on the "every matter may be Lord, who is great and
is impossible for God to do evidence of the works established by the testimony awesome, and fight for your
anything against His own themselves. Very truly I tell of two or three witnesses." If families, your sons and your
nature. We must understand you, whoever believes in me they still refuse to listen, tell it daughters, your wives and your
that when we pray in the will do the works I have been homes.”
name of Jesus we are really doing, and they will do even to the church; and if they 1. Fight for your family as the
asking that we might be greater things than these, refuse to listen even to the church depends on it.
caught up in the spirit of because I am going to the church, treat them as you When the family collapses,
Christ - whose sole aim, you Father. And I will do whatever would a pagan or a tax church collapses, societies
remember, was to do the will you ask in my name, so that collector. Truly I tell you, and the nation collapses.
of the Father - and put God's the Father may be glorified in whatever you bind on earth
will as the highest priority in the Son. You may ask me for will be bound in heaven, and 2. Marriage and family have
huge value despite some
our lives. anything in my name, and I whatever you loose on earth friction.
So, the next time you ask will do it. 'If you love me, will be loosedin heaven. (a) It lengthens the lifespan of
Again, truly I tell you that if
God for something, say to keep my commands. And I women and men.
yourself: Is this prayer in will ask the Father, and he will two of you on earth agree (b) It civilises men.
harmony with the spirit of the give you another advocate to about anything they ask for,
Lord Jesus Christ? Is it help you and be with you for it will be done for them by my Don't fight each other, fight for your family! (c) It protects mothers from
violent crimes.
c o n s i s t e n t w i t h H i s ever - the Spirit of truth. Father in heaven. For where
character? If so, then go two or three gather in my Ephesians 3:14-15: For this reason, I kneel (d) It pleases God.
ahead and use His name. All The world cannot accept name, there am I with them.' before the Father, from whom every family in
heaven will stand behind it. Him, because it neither sees heaven and on earth derives its name.
him nor knows Him. But you P h i l i p p i a n s 2 : 9 - 1 0 : The family is God's first institution.
A prayer to make: O Father, know him, for he lives with Therefore God exalted Him
help me understand what it you and will be in you. I will to the highest place and Genesis 18:18-19: Abraham will surely
means to pray in Jesus' become a great and powerful nation, and all
not leave you as orphans; I gave Him the name that is nations on earth will be blessed through him.
name. Save me from using will come to you. above every name, that at
His name as a kind of the name of Jesus every For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his
magical formula but help me John 16:16-24: Jesus went knee should bow, in heaven children and his household after him to keep
soak my spirit in Christ's on to say, 'In a little while you and on earth and under the the way of the Lord by doing what is right and
character so that my prayer will see me no more, and earth just, so that the Lord will bring about for
and my will coincide with then after a little while you Abraham what he has promised him.”
His. Truly I ask - in Jesus' will see me.' At this, some of Matthew 1:21: She will give Africa's future is dependent on the family and
name. Amen. His disciples said to one birth to a son, and you are to the church starts with family.
Further study: John 14:1- another, 'What does He give Him the name Jesus, Nehemiah 4:13-14: Therefore, I stationed
some of the people behind the lowest points of
18: 'Do not let your hearts be mean by saying, "In little because He will save His the wall at the exposed places, posting them
troubled. You believe in God; while you a will see me no people from their sins.'
by families, with their swords, spears and