...And To Prayer

"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple..”  
Luke 14:27 (NIV)

Have you ever sent a text that went unread for days? Eventually, we all stop checking if it was delivered.

But when you pray, you're engaging with a God who never sets His phone to "Do Not Disturb." The early church understood this privilege. Fresh from Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit newly indwelling them, Acts 2:42 says "they devoted themselves... to prayer."

For these early believers, prayer isn’t a ritual or an emergency hotline. It’s a lifeline they devote themselves to. The Greek word used in this verse for “devoted” indicates they persevered with care and attention that never gave up. 

When family members disowned them for following Jesus, they prayed. When authorities threatened them, they prayed. Their connection to God wasn't reserved for crises but was the very air they breathed.

Yet, we often approach God so differently. A recent survey found that while 48 percent of Americans pray daily, many use prayer like a spiritual lottery ticket—20 percent pray to win actual lotteries, while others pray for sports teams or for someone they dislike to be fired.

Prayer isn't cosmic Amazon Prime—it's intimate communion with the Creator who invites you into partnership. The early believers understood that prayer wasn't about getting God to rubber-stamp their agenda but aligning their hearts with His.

This week, shift your prayer perspective. Instead of presenting God with your wishlist, try asking: "Lord, what are Your desires for me today?" Begin each prayer time with: "Not my will, but Yours be done."

When prayer becomes less about what you want God to do for you and more about what God wants to do through you, you can discover God’s power in new and transformative ways. Devote yourself, today…to prayer.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the shadow of your cross that covers my life. Help me live today in ways that reflect the love, purpose, power, and passion your cross represents. Let me boast in nothing except what You have done for me. Amen.