“Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”” – Luke 11:1 NLT
Welcome to the 23rd weekly devotional recap of the year. This week, we learnt about prayer and its place in the life of a believer.
We began the week by learning that before anything else, prayer is communion with God. God has called us into fellowship with Him (1 Corinthians 1:9), and prayer is one way we live out that fellowship. It is an expression of our dependence on God, and through prayer, we grow in intimacy with God, see God for who He truly is, and receive strength to go through every day. More than a spiritual activity, prayer is and should be a lifestyle (Luke 18:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
On Tuesday, we saw the purpose of prayer. Prayer is central to the life of the believer because it is through prayer that we grow in relationship and remain close to God. Prayer is meant to be a constant, not a last resort. Like any other relationship, closeness with God grows through consistent communication. In prayer, we find peace (Philippians 4:6–7), wisdom (James 1:5), and alignment with God’s will. While God invites us to bring our needs before Him, prayer is first a way to realign our hearts. We pray because relationship and communion are necessary with the One we call Father.
Wednesday’s devotional taught us about having times of prayer. Just as it is with all other aspects of life, structure and reminders help you stay aligned and effective in prayer. Jesus had times of prayer (Mark 1:35, Luke 5:15-16), Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10), the apostles and the early church had an hour of prayer (Acts 3:1). Even though you may not follow the exact times found in Scripture, you must set aside sacred, specific times to pray and build a consistent and intentional prayer lifestyle. Let your commitment to your times of prayer show your commitment to meeting with God.
On Thursday, we learnt about the place of prayer. In the Old Testament, worship was tied to a physical temple (Exodus 25:8–9, Hebrews 9:1), but Jesus came to establish a new ordinance. The believer has now become God’s habitation, and because He lives in us, we can offer our offerings and sacrifices by the words of our mouth (Hebrews 13:15), without the restrictions of having to be in a temple made with hands (John 4:20-22, Acts 17: 24). Like Jesus, we are God’s children and have the same privilege of access to Him. What an honor!
Finally, Friday’s article taught us that we can learn how to pray. Just as learning the alphabet is key to reading, learning to pray is essential to building faith. Like the disciples, you must hunger to grow in the place of prayer (Luke 11:1). When you approach God in prayer, remember you are coming to a good and loving Father who delights in spending time with His children. As you grow in prayer, you begin to see it as an avenue to hear God’s voice, receive His direction, and align your priorities with His will. One of the most important ways to pray is to do so continually (Colossians 4:2). Prayer is an essential part of your christian life, so you must learn to do it effectively and consistently.
Dear believer, prayer is vital to living a purposeful Christian life. From today, be intentional about building a prayer life and committing to it.
Have a beautiful weekend.
Bible Reading Plan: 2 Chronicles 23-28; Luke 12:41-13:21