02/07/2025
ITS NOT THE TIME THAT COUNTS...
In the month of June, I shared a few teachings about prayer, and I was encouraged by those who reached out to say how their prayer lives have been impacted. Prayer indeed transforms us. However, there is an important issue I must address, especially for those who love prayer as I do.
The truth is, you do not have to wake up at midnight, 3:00 a.m., or 4:00 a.m. in order to pray. If you find those times difficult or unsustainable, there is no need to feel condemned. Why? Because over the years, I have met many believers who completely abandoned prayer because they could not maintain the so-called midnight prayer hours.
The idea that God only moves at those specific hours has discouraged many sincere believers. Of course, if you are in full-time ministry and have the ability to wake up at 3:00 a.m. for intercession, then you should do so faithfully. However, if you are working, attending school, or managing a family, and you are not naturally a morning person, you must not allow guilt to rob you of a vibrant and consistent prayer life. Some believers attempt to emulate others without spiritual discernment, just because someone else prays at 3:00 a.m. does not mean that you are required to do the same. There is no value in forcing yourself into a rhythm that God has not called you to.
Now, Let me take you through various Bible verses and show you something that might be a revelation to you! You see, not all apostles followed the same prayer routine. For example, the Apostle Peter was not a man of the night. Each time Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to pray during the night, they fell asleep. Notice Matthew 26:40, Jesus said to them;
“What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?” (NKJV).
This rebuke occurred three times, they slept repeatedly when they were expected to pray. They were in the very presence of the Lord, and yet they still could not keep awake. But wait... even after the resurrection of Jesus, Peter did not become a night intercessor. He was a man of prayer, but not during the night. Now notice Acts 3:1,
“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.” (NKJV).
The ninth hour here refers to 3:00 p.m. It was at this time in the afternoon that they went to pray and healed the lame man at the temple gate. It was not during the midnight hour.
Now notice Acts 10:9, Peter went up to the rooftop to pray at about the sixth hour, which is 12:00 noon. Notice again In Acts 2:15, when some accused the apostles of being drunk, Peter responded;
“These are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.” (NKJV).
The third hour was 9:00 a.m! the time when the Holy Spirit had just been poured out. It happened in the morning, not at night.
Are you ready for more? Here we go... In Acts 12, Peter was in prison awaiting ex*****on, the Bible states that Peter was sleeping. He was neither praying, nor was he singing hymns like Paul and Silas. He was deeply asleep. The angel had to strike him on the side to wake him up. This clearly shows that Peter was not wired for night prayer. And yet, God used him powerfully. He raised the dead, healed the sick, and opened the doors of the gospel to the Gentiles.
The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, was a man of the night. Notice what Acts 16:25 says,
“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (NKJV).
They had been beaten, chained, and were in pain, but at midnight they were awake, praying and praising God. In Acts 20:7, Paul preached late into the night in Troas. A young man named Eutychus fell asleep, fell from the third floor, and died. Paul went down, embraced him, and brought him back to life. After that, he returned upstairs and continued preaching until daybreak. Paul literally preached all through the night.
Now, notice how 1 Thessalonians 3:10 provides further insight into Paul’s lifestyle of prayer:
“Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith.” (NKJV).
Paul prayed consistently both night and day. During the day, he would work as a tentmaker. In the evening, he would teach and minister, as he did in Ephesus, where he spent two years and established a Bible school.
Whats my point? Well, as a believer, you must stop comparing yourself to others. You must stop measuring your spirituality based on another person’s schedule. The power of prayer is not found in the time of day, but in sincerity and consistency.
God hears the prayer offered at 3:00 a.m., and He hears the one prayed at 3:00 p.m. What matters is not when you pray, but that you pray with a true and faithful heart. Peter prayed in the morning and shook nations. Paul prayed at night and shook prisons. Each man followed his own God-given rhythm. You must do the same.
Some teachings about prayer can mislead you. If not tested, they can ruin your marriage, damage your business, cause you to lose your job, and even lead you into spiritual error. Be wise. Be sincere. Be consistent. But most of all, be led by the Spirit of God.
Keep praying.
