“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God… After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:24 – 31 (NIV)
Welcome to the 39th weekly devotional recap of the year. This week’s articles reminded us of the effectiveness of the prayer of the man in Christ and emphasised the power of one mind as believers.
We began the week by learning that the believer stands before God as His child. Your prayers are not effective because of how long, loud, or eloquently you pray; the power of prayer begins with who is praying. It is the prayer of a righteous man, who you have become in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), that is effective (James 5:16b). Pray from a place of identity and assurance. Let your confidence rise from knowing that your Father loves you (1 John 3:1) and that in Christ, His gates are always open to you.
On Tuesday, we learnt that for the believer, prayer is a weapon that produces tangible results. It is both your shield and your sword. As a shield, prayer guards our hearts from fear, worry, and the fiery darts of the wicked (Philippians 4:6-7, Ephesians 6:16); and as a sword, it pushes back darkness and enforces your victory in Christ (Ephesians 6:17-18). Resist the devil steadfastly in prayer (James 47). Never underestimate its power. When you run into the strong tower of the Lord’s name in prayer, you are safe (Proverbs 18:10).
Wednesday’s devotional showed us what happens when we pray together: chains break, miracles unfold, and God’s glory is revealed in a greater dimension, more than one person could experience alone (Acts 4:31). Corporate prayer is not just a spiritual exercise; it is a covenant backed by heaven (Matthew 18:19-20, Acts 1:14; 2:1-2). When we agree in faith, it is a breeding ground for supernatural manifestations (Acts 16:25-26). One believer’s prayer is powerful, but many people praying together in faith unleashes exponential power.
On Thursday, we saw the power in unity in prayer (Psalm 133:1). When you are alone, you may grow weary. Still, together with other believers, you can burn with a flame sustained by the Spirit of God, who designed for His people not to walk in isolation, but to live as a body held together in Him (Psalm 133:2, John 17:21). Oneness is not optional if we desire to do the will of God. Where the church lives as one family in Christ, the anointing flows freely, blessings abound, and the world sees His glory more clearly.
We ended the week with an emphasis on the fact that we are stronger and better together (Ecclesiastes 4:9). God never meant for man to handle life’s challenges by himself (Genesis 2:18). Throughout scripture, we see the importance of community (Exodus 17:10-13, 1 Samuel 23:16-17, Daniel 1:11-13, 1 Kings 19:16-18, Mark 3:14-15). We need each other. You might be strong on your own, but when you are connected to others in Christ, you become even stronger. That is why God made you part of His Church. He wants you to have fellowship.
Dear believer, God has called you into a powerful family. You have access to Him as your Father, and you have brothers and sisters in Christ. When we are united in Him, everything we do, including prayer, is more effective.
Have a beautiful weekend.
Bible Reading Plan: Isaiah 29–33; Ephesians 5:16; 6:1 – 24