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Friends, greetings in Jesus Name! Today I will be sharing with you what I title, “The Opportunity Cost Of A Prayerless Life”. In my economics class in secondary school, my teacher taught us about opportunity cost. He said opportunity cost is an economic term meaning “alternative forgone”. In other words, it refers to a benefit that a person could have received, but gave up, to take another course of action. According to my teacher, if you are presented with a choice to either study for your exam coming up tomorrow or to go to a cinema and you decide to go to cinema, the opportunity cost of your action is the good preparation you should have given to yourself to pass the exam. As a young boy, my teacher’s lecture on this subject taught me a lesson such that whenever I am presented with a choice to make, I always think of the opportunity cost of my actions. Today, many would prefer to watch movies rather than spend time in prayer. And the opportunity cost of their action usually shows in their spiritual emptiness. Is there anything wrong with watching a movie? Absolutely not! But you must understand there is time for everything.

In Mark 14:37-38, “Jesus came and found His disciples sleeping, and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch for one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Listen, if there is a time you or the church needs to pray, it is Now. There was nothing wrong for the disciples to sleep, but not at that critical moment they were needed most to keep watch in prayer. The opportunity cost of their action is the time they should have fortified themselves in prayer against satanic onslaughts and temptations. If you notice afterward, Satan struck. Jesus was taken away from them, the disciples were scattered, Peter denied Jesus three times, and they were gripped with fear. Jesus declared in Luke 18:1, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” In the very season we’re in, you can’t afford to draw back in prayer and withstand the incessant attacks of the enemy. We are in the very last days, and it is not a time to be lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). There’s no lukewarmness in God’s kingdom. You are either hot for God or cold for the devil to toy with. No demilitarized zone. If you don’t pray you become a prey. God wants us hot in our prayers. Flies stay far from the kitchen when it is hot, but return when it is cold to perch on the stove and cooking pots.

Admonishing the church in Thessalonica, Apostle Paul said to them, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonian 5:16-18). Yes, it is God’s will for us that we stand watch in prayer always. David said in Psalm 55:16-17, “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” If I may ask: Is your voice registered in heaven? Are you interceding for the church, your family, your community, and the nation? You see, so many atrocities against mankind are averted through fervent prayer. “For the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Listen, if you can take your prayer life very seriously, you will be so amazed at the level of stature you will attain in the realm of the spirit. Prophet Amos declared, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Hear me, those who pray pick heaven’s vibration to know God’s next move or agenda on the earth. Yes, they become the custodians of heaven’s activities on the earth. They are never taken by surprise on the events or happenings on the earth. Why? Because they are accurately positioned – spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically – to know what to do when others are confused (1 Chronicles 12:32). When you constantly tarry in the place of prayer, you expand your capacity to tap into the world of the invisible, where you’re able to see series of events beyond the reach of physical eyes that are lined up to take place on the earth (2 Kings 6:8-19).

I remember, many years ago when I was still in the university in Johannesburg. One night the Lord woke me up to pray. I tried to ignore that nudge to pray because it was winter, very cold, and I was enjoying my sleep. But I noticed the Lord still pressing me to arise and pray, particularly for my country, Nigeria. When I looked at the time, it was past midnight, and I stood up and started interceding for my country. The following morning, I was preparing to go for my lecture class when the news came that the President of Nigeria is dead. This was June 8, 1998. I strongly believe there was a reason the Lord asked me to pray at that hour. Don’t sit back and watch the devil scattering and messing up things in your life, business, finance, children and family. No Way! Today couples violate their marital vows at ease and their homes are breaking, children left to fend for themselves, grown siblings at loggerheads with each other and do not talk for years, and the devil attacking from left, right and centre.

As a believer, would you sit back at ease and do nothing? No! Amos 6:1 says, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.” You must arise in the place of intense prayer and checkmate the activities of the evil one that’s orchestrated to destabilise your home, business and family. Do not join the bandwagon of those who are offended and pointing fingers at others. At times, you must learn to suffer wrong for the sake of saving a generation plunging off the cliff (1 Corinthians 6:7). Open your mouth to pray and issue a decree. Job 22:28-29 declares, “You shall decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you, and light shall shine upon your ways. When men are cast down, then you shall say, there is lifting up.” Hallelujah! Remember, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes.5:17). Have a Blessed and Fantastic Week. With love, Elvis!