5 Minute Read
Be Still
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a couple of minutes to breathe deeply, to quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, prayerfully ask the Lord to speak to you in this time and let Him know that you will be listening and will make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Today’s Bible Reading:
1 Chronicles 4:5–5:17
Acts 25:1-27
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 18:19
Listen to the Lord
Slowly and reflectively read the following verses and listen to what God will say to you through them. Then, consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Psalm 5:1-3 (NLT): “O LORD, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
Reflections from Scripture:
One of the greatest privileges that we have as Jesus-followers is prayer. The fact that we exercise our faith and boldly step into the very throne room of grace to find the answers we need is nothing short of amazing.
Unfortunately, we are often guilty of neglecting this most precious privilege. We fail to take the time to carry our burdens and requests to the Lord and, therefore, do not receive what we do not ask for.
Friend, are you praying for a significant amount of time each day? Do you at least periodically receive the things you ask for?
If you need help in prayer, here are a couple of resources that I have previously used to assist me. (You may be able to find a better bargain than at the links I have provided.)
“The 29:59 Plan” – This is a 3-ring notebook with many instructions on how to pray. It also greatly assists in helping to organize each of our prayer requests and record answers.
“Handbook to Prayer” – This is a small book with 90 days of personalized Scripture. Each day provides a plan to pray through Scripture in categories such as Adoration, Confession, Intercession, and more.
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know in my heart that prayer is powerful. It is a privilege that You gave to me when You saved me. Through prayer, I can call upon Heaven to move on earth and see incredible things happen. Yet, all too often, my prayer life feels like it’s on life-support. Help me to renew my passion for prayer. Give me the grace I need to become even more effective in prayer. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Matt’s Musings 