This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Godly Habits! (WATCH HERE)
Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves…to prayer”
Communication is key in any relationship.
I recently started rereading a leadership book by John Maxwell called, “Everyone communicates, few connect.” The premise of the book is that one can use words to communicate ideas and thoughts, but if they do not take an interest in the person, there is no connection and thus the communication is ineffective. Ideally one does both – communicate AND connect.
I was musing on this thought in regard to my prayer life and perhaps what it meant that the early Christians were devoted to the habit of prayer.
One can find numerous examples in the book of Acts of the early Christians praying about people, praying for the advancement of the Gospel, praying for the safety of the Apostles, praying for God to open doors and more. Their devotion to prayer makes it evident that prayer was habitual and a first resort when dealing with challenges in life, but especially the challenges that came as a result of being a follower of Christ.
But one also senses that the prayer life of the first century Christian was not just a “Hey, we better pray about it” but rather a habit based on a deep connection to the One to whom they prayed. It was only natural in the context of that relationship and connection to pray, to communicate to the One who had a deep and sincere connection with them and they with him.
Habitual prayer is good, but perhaps dangerous when it turns into empty words without any or little awareness of the relationship with the one to whom we pray.
Jesus taught: Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Many prayers and many words do not make a connection in prayer. Words that come from a heart of love and trust in the Father who hears our prayer because we are his children are the prayers that are heard.
So what does this habit look like? It’s interesting that it’s last in this brief list, but the first items foster the connection with the Lord (devoted to the Apostles’ teaching and the breaking of bread) and the relationship with God’s people (devoted to the fellowship). With these meaningful relationships in place, the habit of prayer flows from these connections. We want to pray to the God who reveals himself in the pages of Scripture and his work of grace. We want to pray for the people of God with whom we share life and ministry with. We want to pray for ourselves and share the joys and concerns in our heart.
Why? Because we have a connection with the One to whom we communicate.
Apply: Evaluate: Does your connection in prayer or your communication in prayer need nurture to develop a deeper habit of prayer? If it’s connection, devote yourself to the Scriptures and let prayer flow from what you read. If it’s communication, devote yourself to time in your day which is spent in prayer.
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for establishing a connection with us through the faith you have given and the relationship you have nurtured. Lead me to never lose the joy and privilege of prayer you have given and encouraged to strengthen our connection and allow me to communicate with you. AMEN.