Pray the WordSample

Devoted to Prayer

Today's verse is one of three different times in the opening chapters of Acts where we read about disciples of Jesus being devoted to prayer (see also Acts 2:42; 6:4). At this point in Acts 1, Jesus had just ascended into heaven after dying on the cross and then rising from the dead. An angel from heaven had told Jesus’ disciples that he would return, and so they gathered to pray in the upper room in Jerusalem along with Jesus’ family and some women who had supported his ministry. Jesus himself had promised his disciples that they would receive power to be his witnesses “to the end of the earth” when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 1:8).

Remember, just before leaving, Jesus had given these disciples a global commission. They were to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and “be witnesses … to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). So they gathered together, but it wasn’t to devote themselves to planning. They didn’t go to the upper room to strategize about how to get the gospel to the ends of the earth. They devoted themselves to praying.

As you think about your own life and all that God has given you to do, are you more devoted to praying or planning? I’m not saying planning and preparing and strategizing are bad things, but if we are not devoting ourselves to praying, then we’re missing the point. And we’re missing the power we need to do all that God has called us to do in this world. Let us not spend hours planning and only minutes praying. We need to be devoted to prayer because we need the power of the Spirit of God to obey the will of God.

Prayer

God, please help us to devote ourselves to prayer. We pray that you would guard us from our tendency to plan and strategize and do all kinds of work apart from dependence on you. Help us to realize our powerlessness, our total inability in and of ourselves to do what you’ve called us to do. We cannot do anything apart from you. So teach us to pray like the early disciples in dependance on and desperation for the power of your Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.