HIGHLIGHT
Acts 1:13–14 (ESV): 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
EXPLAIN
After Jesus’ ascension, the believers, about 120 people, began meeting in the upper room. As they waited for the Holy Spirit to come, they began to pray.
They devoted themselves to prayer.
During the prayer time, Peter was studying and meditating on scripture and realized that Judas Iscariot’s place among the Twelve needed to be filled.
Having replaced Judas, having prayed, the believers then waited in unity… and the Holy Spirit came upon them.
APPLY
Listening to some podcasts on disciple-making recently, the point has been made that Christians in the U.S., Christians in the Western world, know little about sustained, devoted prayer.
We tend to pray for a purpose. Once the purpose is accomplished, we think we no longer need to pray. Or, if our prayer is not answered, we look to other methods to accomplish our desires.
The purpose of prayer is to change our heart, mind, and will to be in conformity to God’s will. How might our lives and churches be different if we truly devoted ourselves to such prayer?
RESPOND
Heavenly Father, help me to take the next step in my life to becoming “devoted in prayer”. May I learn the joy of the sweet fellowship of prayer, of submission to your will, of living for your glory. Amen.