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And they prayed…. Acts 1:24

Prayer is a significant part of the life of a believer; and we are called to pray. As the body needs oxygen (air), food and water to maintain life, so as believers we need prayer and the word to sustain our spiritual life. Prayer is communion with our Heavenly Father. Not only do we speak to Him, but He also speaks to us.

As you read the scriptures you see the importance of prayer in the life of God’s people. Even Jesus, though He is the Son of God, when He was on earth, He communed daily in prayer with the Father. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed, (Mark 1:35). During the time of prayer, there is a connection of divinity with humanity. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, (Acts 1:14). And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, (Acts 2:1-2).

Prayer may look simple, and at times one may wonder about the effectiveness of prayer, but we know that there is power in prayer. Prayer changes things. In the book of James 5 we learn of the effects of prayer. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much, (James 5:16). To put it simple, the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Is anyone among you afflicted? Pray! Is any among you sick? Pray! Do you need direction? Pray!

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. (James 5:17-18 NLT). One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, (Luke 3:21).

We are admonished throughout scripture to always pray. Pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, Ephesians 6:18. Continue in prayer, (Colossians 4:2). Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man, (Luke 21:26).

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak, (Matthew 26:41).

PRAY!

Don't Worry...Worship!

“If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” - 1 Peter 3:14-15 (NLT)

This Spiritual walk is not for weaklings, wimps, or the faint of heart. It takes courageous men and women to follow Yeshua.

What is it costing you to follow Messiah Yeshua? Unlike many Believers around the world, you may not live in an area where you face violent oppression. But you likely deal with silent repression every single day as most cultures are becoming more and more secularized and anti-Christian.

No matter where you’re from, when you’re faced with opposition because of your faith, it’s natural to feel afraid. So how do you get rid of the fear of opposition? How do you get rid of the fear of disapproval? How do you get rid of the fear of being rejected?

You need to be filled with God’s Love. The Bible says, “There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18 ESV). When you face opposition, choose to focus on God’s Love for you. People who rest in the assurance of God’s Love don’t fear rejection or disapproval.

The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:14-15, “If you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Yeshua as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a Believer, always be ready to explain it”.

When you feel pressured to be quiet about your faith, you have a choice: You can worry, or you can worship. That means either you panic or you pray; you focus on the problem, pressure, and persecution, or you focus on God.

When you’re opposed because of your faith, you’re going to feel pressure. But choose to turn away from the pressure you feel and put your focus on God. In other words, choose to worship…because focusing on God is essentially worship.

Next time you face opposition for your faith, choose to worship instead of worry.

God's Got Your Back

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; You stretch out Your hand, and Your right hand delivers me. - Psalm 138:7 NRSV

David walked through trouble on a regular basis. His psalms express the struggles and disappointments he faced, yet in the end, he always turned his focus back to God. The key to his victorious attitude was strong faith in the Lord.

Our job is to believe and obey; God is responsible for the outcomes in our life.

David was confident in God’s purpose. That’s why he could say, “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me” (Ps. 138:8). By keeping our focus on the Lord and His purpose, we can stay strong when we walk through trouble.

He relied on the Lord’s power. In times of difficulty, we can trust God to deliver us too…though the outcome may not be what we expect. Remember, our Father will sustain us through the trial, walking with us every step of the way.

David believed the promises of God. He wrote today’s two verses to repeatedly remind himself what the Lord would do. We also need some specific promises from Scripture that will anchor us in times of trouble. The truths of the Bible are our most valuable possession when the storms of life attack us.

God assumes responsibility for accomplishing what concerns you in times of trouble. Your job is to believe that the Lord will fulfill His purpose, all powerful and well able to handle the task, and will keep every promise He has made. Keep walking with your eyes on Him.