Day 4: Devoted to prayer
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2).
Our Father in heaven, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body... (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Not only have You given us this great gift and privilege—this amazing invitation to enter the Most Holy Place, but You have instructed us to devote ourselves to prayer (Colossians 4:2). And in the model for prayer (The Lord's prayer) that the Lord Jesus taught us (Matthew 6:9-13), we understand why—for we see the importance of prayer in all the affairs of Your kingdom.
From the opening words, "Our Father in heaven" we are taught to approach You with great humility and awe—understanding both our familial relationship and Your power and authority. Thus, we learn to ascribe to You the glory due Your name, and [to] worship You in the splendor of Your holiness (Psalm 29:2).
From this perspective, we are taught to pray for Your kingdom to come and for Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. And throughout the rest of the model prayer, even as we ask for provision, for protection, for deliverance, for forgiveness, and for the ability to forgive, Your kingdom, Your power, and Your glory are at the center of every request.
As we look at the model prayer, the prayers of the apostles and the early church, and the prayers of the Lord Jesus Himself, we understand that the call to devote ourselves to prayer is a call to invest in Your kingdom. You work in all things through prayer—as before our Father's throne, with thankful hearts, we lay our prayers, petitions and requests for ourselves and for each other.
You have left us assignments that You prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). But we have no ability to complete them unless we receive power from on high (Luke 24:49).
Through prayer we ask for help against temptation (Matthew 26:41).
Through prayer we ask for endurance so that we will be able to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).
Through prayer we ask for strength to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11, 18 - NKJV).
Through prayer we entreat for the harvest fields—so that the good news of the kingdom, and hope and healing would come to the harassed and helpless (Matthew 9:35-38).
Through prayer we lift to Your throne all the Lord's people, and messengers of the good news—for utterance, for clarity, for courage, for boldness, for wisdom, for guidance, for open doors (Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:3; 2).
Through prayer we bring to You the special needs that arise in the lives of others—provision (Philippians 4: 6, 19), freedom and restoration, (Hebrews 13:19), and healing (James 5:16).
Lord, we depend on You for our food, our shelter, our every need, our breath, our very life. Help us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17 - NKJV). Give us hearts fixed on Your kingdom even as we come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16 – NKJV).
Comments