It is a pleasure to introduce Pastor Olukayode Babalola's Clasped Hands: 100 Daily Prayer Verses to you. This set of prayers came out from a man yearning to reach the heart of Jesus Christ. It is a response to love—to a God who is agape . This book is thus an invitation to you to share in the divine love which has been shed abroad in all hearts.

What you have in your own hands, as I have found out myself, will be a blessing to you in three ways. First, you have a collection of prayers that will invigorate your daily devotion. Second, while you are engaged in the joyful task of talking to our God you are also learning to hide His words in your heart. It will be a good thing to read to your self the daily meditation verses at the beginning of each prayer. Sounding the Lord's words will make it resonate in your deep and connect you to the One who owns the depth and height of all existence. Third, it will help you to tarry before the His presence.

Many years ago, I learned to spend hours before the Lord by using prayer books like this one. I am of the school of thought that believes that in a prayer life (especially that of beginners) there should be structure and flexibility that are well integrated. The believer who has learned to guide and guard his or herself at the altar of prayers by the words of the Bible and wise counsel from experienced knees has prepared the totality of his (her) being for the freedom and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the prayer closet. I challenge you to set aside time to pray all the 100 prayers in one session with the Spirit. You will be transformed after this experience. Those who lift up their hands and eyes to God are bold to stretch forth their hands to receive what is rightly theirs as their heaven moves from being above them to being ahead of them.

I have personally gone over all the prayers in my quiet time and I found them useful, encouraging, and joyful. I urge you to share in the joy of this book. This book as it remains is incomplete. A prayer book will not be a prayer book without those who receive it as the prayer book. So go ahead and turn this book into the complete book that it should be. Write and re-inscribe the prayers herein—and more like them that you can craft-as a memorial before our God in heaven.

Pastor Nimi Wariboko
Coordinator Research, RCCG North America

April 26, 2008

Clasped Hands is a devotional prayer book which contains 100 prayer verses with 100's of prayer points...