Day 23 – Lenten Devotional

LENTEN DEVOTIONAL – DAY 23 – MONDAY, April 1, 2019

Jesus Prayed

John 17:1 After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed:

One activity that Jesus taught about and demonstrated was prayer.  Praying is one of those Christian words that can be passed off as simple rote recitation with hands folded, bowed head and closed eyes…but prayer is far deeper.  The Old Testament use of the word pray comes from several Hebrew words that taken together speak of intervention, introspection, judging oneself, to bow, and done with proper understanding of Who you pray to.  The New Testament words for prayer gives us further insight; to prostrate or bow, to rejoicing, thanksgiving, asking, crying out, done in humbleness to God.

Prayer then is the holy (set apart) time, that Christians engage God with reverence in honor, praise, and thanksgiving, and rejoicing for God’s work in our lives, but also asking, crying out, and interceding.  Praying is not simple conversation it is HOLY conversation.  It is not a monologue where you speak a laundry list of requests to God and leave it at that.  Prayer is a dialogue of conversation with your heavenly Father in which you must discipline yourself to HEAR Him speak to your being. The life and fruit of a Christian is built upon intimate contact with the Creator of the universe!

REFLECT:  Have you truly thought about your prayer life?  Is prayer really important to you?  Do you hear God’s word to your soul in the dialogue of prayer?

REPENT:  Change your ways. Pray to God in deep introspection asking for forgiveness and in conscientious appreciation for the blessings in your life.  Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

RESTORE:  Prayer is your awesome time of holy and intimate contact with Almighty God and it is also a precious interaction with your Father who loves you.  Pray!

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

Blessings,
Pastor Tom Bellhy