Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Power of Prayer

Acts 1:12-14

Steven Tom
St. James MTC, NY
14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

How important is prayer to us in our daily lives? How many times do we find time in the day to stop what we are doing to talk to our Father in Heaven? Martin Luther said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayer isn’t just a way for us to ask God for things that we need. God has showered His blessings on each and every one of us and He expects us to glorify Him through the power of prayer.
 
In this passage, we learn that after Jesus’s ascension into heaven, the first thing that the disciples did was to return to Jerusalem and go back to the room where they were staying to get together with the other disciples, some women, and the brothers of Jesus so they could join with each other in prayer to give thanks to God for all the good works that Jesus had done during His time with them. As true Christians, it is our utmost responsibility to join together with our fellow believers, and through prayer, give glory to God the father and to praise His holy name.
 

Prayer is our way of keeping a strong relationship with God. Without prayer, we will fail to remember that, whether good or bad, God provides us with everything we have in our lives and that we owe Him everything. Prayer is the essence of our communication with God. In our prayers, some aspects that we need to keep in mind are adoration and thanksgiving, confession, and supplication. Adoration and thanksgiving is our way of showing our love for God and to thank Him for everything He has done for us. Confession is how we ask God for forgiveness for disobeying Him and repent our sins so God will forgive and renew us. Lastly, supplication is how we ask God for needs in our lives, whether for others or ourselves, and God will always listen to us, even though He has a plan of His own. Through these aspects, if we continue to pray daily to God, then only can we truly be led by the Spirit.   

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for all that You have done for us in our lives. Please guide us and help us to be grateful for all the blessings You have showered upon us. Help us to understand that everything we have comes from You alone and help us to keep a strong relationship with You through our prayers. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

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