Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
Acts 2:5-7

One of the marvelous things Jesus did was to gather a group of ordinary people to be His closest followers. He didn’t choose celebrities, powerful government officials or military heroes, all were relatively unknown. However, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were able to speak in the various languages of all those assembled in Jerusalem for the festival.

People were amazed at this – “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?” (v. 7). The crowd supposed that due to the disciples’ background it was unlikely they were well educated and well travelled. In this case, their lack of sophistication and social standing made the gift of the Holy Spirit even more amazing, and that was God’s plan all along.

God can use any person to fulfill His purpose, no matter what their profession or position. The only characteristic God cares about is our faith and love. The gifts of the spirit are given to all, and all are called to share those gifts.

Loving Lord, let us be responsive and responsible disciples, ready to go into the world to share the Good News. May we use the gifts You have given well for the benefit of all creation. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

God has provided us opportunities to be His witnesses in the world. Jesus came to Jerusalem during Passover that many gathered might hear His story and see how He was obedient, even to death. Now God provides the disciples such a chance at the celebration of Pentecost, the Hebrew festival of early harvest.

God sends the Holy Spirit and enables the disciples to speak the various languages of those gathered in Jerusalem. Not only do the people witness a miracle but they hear the disciples testifying to God’s love and care for us. It causes many to stop what they are doing and listen.

The appearance of the Corona virus over past months has caused many of us to stop what we have been doing regularly. While we have been concerned for the health of our families and friends, we have been given an opportunity to stop and listen, to hear that God still loves and cares for us, and wants to be part of our lives every day. May we continue to hear His call and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us as we return to our activities, blessed to be a blessing to each other.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your care over us during difficult times. Help us to be stronger as we go forward, knowing and sharing Your love with all the world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is Acts 2:1-21.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Acts 2:1-21

Just as Jesus promised, the disciples felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and the energy it brought to them. Suddenly they all began to speak in different languages and foreign visitors understood them. The Holy Spirit indicated to them right away what was to be their mission.

Jesus wanted His disciples to see that they had been called to go to all the world, as evidenced by the variety of visitors to Jerusalem for the Pentecost celebration. They saw that the testimony they would share could bring diverse groups of people with different customs and societies together under the rule of Christ. His message could unite the world.

As always, there were those who disagreed and didn’t believe. Peter makes up for His previous denial of Jesus with a vigorous and well spoken defense of their faith, setting the stage and the standard for all the stories of Jesus to come. The Holy Spirit calls us all to share our faith and let the world know how much Jesus loves us.

Gracious God, we thank You for the gift of our risen Savior and the Holy Spirit as Your presence with and within us. Make us strong in our faith and bless us to go to the world with our testimony. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 17:1-11.

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:1-11

Jesus is ready for the next step of His work, but now He prays for the disciples, asking God to protect and guide them. He was fully aware of what He was called to do, but even so, Jesus prayed for us. He wanted to be sure we were on the right path as He prepared to leave us.

Jesus commends His followers to the Father, that His word has been accepted and understood. He gives them back to God as God gave them to Him. His love for us is so great that as He faces His own death, He prays for us.

May our love for Him be such, that even in times of stress and grief, we pray to the Father for each other, for that is His command to us – “Love one another” (John 13:34). The connection we have is our greatest gift. Nothing is as important to Him as our love for God and each other.

Loving Lord, we often fail to use the gifts we have been given and forget they are not really for us, but for Your creation. Help us to live out the blessing You give, the connection for which Jesus prayed. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 17:1-11.

All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
John 17:10-11

Jesus speaks of so close a relationship with God that “all I have is Yours and all You have is mine” (v. 10). He is connected to the Father and returning to Him, but still He prays for those He leaves behind to be protected. Even in His final hours, Jesus shows love and concern for His followers.

He prays that we may all be one with God and each other, just as He has. More than anything He has taught, loving God and one another is most important. This connection protects and nourishes our faith, enabling us to continue the ministry of love Jesus leaves to us.

In this action, Jesus both intercedes on our behalf and shows us the best way to remain connected – through prayer. He calls us to the same relationship He has with God, one of trust and obedience. God is constant in His love and care for us, wanting us to turn to Him in every situation, and to know the joy Jesus felt in that eternal connection.

Gracious God, we are amazed by the love You send us, and that You ask us to share it with the world. Help us to be Your representatives in the world, continuing the work Jesus began. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 17:1-11.

For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.

John 17:8-9

Jesus continues His prayer for His followers, verifying their acceptance and understanding. He says “I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours” (v.9). At the very end of His earthly ministry, Jesus focused on those closest to Him because they would be the ones to carry on His work.

Jesus prayed for them because they would bring His message to all the earth, through their witness and the spreading faith of generations to come, all the way down to us. He specifically said “I’m not praying for the world” because that wasn’t God’s plan – at least not that way. Jesus calls us to do what He has done in order that the world might be saved.

Make no mistake, Jesus doesn’t need our help but He asks us to be part of His message of love to all people. The world still comes to the Father through Him, but we have been called to bring the world to Him through our sharing of His story. We are His disciples today, charged with the work of His kingdom.

Loving Lord, thank You for trusting us with the message of hope You bring. Make us effective communicators of the Good News to everyone. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 17:1-11.

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.”

John 17:6-7

Jesus continues the prayer for His disciples, remembering that we were all God’s from the beginning and were given to Jesus to tend and teach. He says that those who follow Him know that everything comes from God and have been obedient to His word. As with our prayers, He is not saying anything God does not already know, but is sharing His experience with God.

We are called by His words and example to have this prayer life relationship with God just as He does. Jesus wants everyone to know the Father and to feel the love and power that flows from that connection. This encourages and enables us to be obedient even when we would rather go our own way, even when times are hard.

How does your prayer life connect you with the Father? The apostle Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing”. God wants to hear from us all the time, not just when we are in trouble or need something. Share your life with God and He will share life with you.

Heavenly Father, we are glad to be able to come to You in prayer. Help us to speak and listen earnestly, hearing Your word for us and going to fulfill Your call in the world. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 17:1-11.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
John 17:3-5

Jesus continues His prayer speaking of eternal life by knowing Him and God who sent Him. This relationship, while mysterious to us as humans, is how we were created – in the image of God and intended to be connected to Him forever. We have followed our own desires and forgotten this great truth.

Jesus prays that He might be worthy to return to God and resume His place. He has nearly finished His task here and He asks God to help Him see it through. Jesus knew what was asked of Him and because of His unspoiled relationship with God is able to accomplish it.

God waits for us to remember our relationship and the task He asks of us. He is ready to forgive us, renew us, and send us into the world to the purpose for which we were intended. God wants us to be Christlike, that we may share His love with everyone.

Gracious God, we are sorry for our lack of obedience and love. Help us to be strong in You, understanding our place in creation and doing the work You intend for us. Amen.

Our scripture this week is John 17:1-11.

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
John 17:1-2

Jesus asks to be blessed to be a blessing for the glory of God. He doesn’t ask to be made rich or powerful, He really isn’t asking anything for himself. Instead He asks to glorify God and bring eternal life “to all those You have given Him” (v. 2) – that would be all of us.

Jesus has always been the model for our lives and He shows that He obeys His own commandment in this. He loves God first and all of us as Himself. In everything He did, Jesus was consistent, leading us to salvation in Him.

We must be consistent in our love for God and each other as well. Jesus told us “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). It’s not always easy, but Jesus said it is the only way we will truly follow Him.

Loving Lord, we hear the commandment to love one another but we have trouble keeping it. Help us to be less prone to shout and more eager to love. May we become the children You intend us to be. Amen.