Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

Power of Earnest Prayer Acts 13:1-12 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2  Example of the Praying Church: God calls different people at different times to proclaim the word of God. Sometimes He calls the "least" of our brothers to declare his glory and power. In Acts 13:2-3 we examine Barnabas and Paul's missionary work and return to Jerusalem. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Paul for the work which I have called them." They then fasted and prayed, the elders placed their hands on them and sent them off. The power of prayer and the act of God are evident here. The Holy Spirit spoke and chose both Paul and Barnabas to leave Jerusalem for Cyprus. The responsibility of the church and others was to pray for the people, ordain them and to lay their hands on them to be blessed by the Holy Spirit. Everyone was not asked to put their hands on God's chosen people; there are specially ordained persons authorized to lay hands on the people to bless them for the missionary work. Here we see people chosen by God to do his selected purpose. A community praying for its members to do God's will. As we have seen in the scripture, the church prayed for them before they were sent off because the blessing of the Holy Spirit must be with the people to work in His vineyard effectively. Power of Prayer — a personal experience. God always hears our prayers. Sometimes it takes time to receive blessings. We are to bow down to him at all times. We are weak and sinful; we must reconstruct our lives, as the Father wants. Only then we could receive His blessings. We are to pray for others at all times in their sickness and well-being. In my personal life God has worked miracles. He delivered me from a major sickness and gave me the assurance that I am going to be okay. I prayed to my Father to heal me and to reconstruct me, as He wants. I had a praying community — my church community. Many prayed for me. My church members wept and prayed for me. God promised where two or three come together in His name, there shall He be with them. I can't express enough thanks to my praying church. God showed His miracles and saved me from my sickness. It took almost a year for me to feel better but my God never left me. He is with me all the time and everywhere; His presence always surrounded me. I surrendered my life to my God and Savior, my keeper and protector. I pray that as my God helped me through my troubles and sickness, that He would help others also who are facing the same experience. . Let us submit our lives to His mighty hand and help us obey His commands. Prayer: Father, help us to experience the power of prayer in our life. We pray for all our brothers and sisters who are undergoing treatment for various kinds of diseases. Grant them perfect healing as you have healed me. Amen THOUGHT FOR THE DAY The better you get to know God, the less confusion you will have about what his will is Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church