"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to all the ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8 NIV
This verse today, in a sense, encapsulates the book of Acts: for the book of Acts, 1:1 to 8:3, deals with proclaiming the gospel in Jerusalem and to the Jews; Acts 8:4-12:23, deals with the spread of the gospel to Samaria, the coastal plain and Cesarea; Acts 12:24-28:31, deals with the spread of the gospel throughout the known world and to Rome.
This spread was carried out by human beings, but the spread of the gospel was planned by God. On Nov. 14, we will read how persecution, the stoning of Stephen, caused the spread of the gospel message.
In Acts, there is a reoccurring cycle from prayer to power to persecution to prayer...
One lesson we should learn is to stay in prayer, so that God's power can work through us and so that we can stand up to persecution. Many people have taught us about prayer: Abraham, Moses, Jabez, David, others, and Jesus.
One effective way to pray is to find a location; under a tree, in a park, in a chair, and try to reserve that place for prayer. In approaching God in prayer through the Son, with the Spirit, consider listing attributes of God, give Him respect for the awesome, incomparable God He is! Then give Him thanks for items; this day, blessings, challenges, struggles, family, growth, and other blessings. After the thanks, then approach with petitions.
I have found the method of praise, thanks, and petition allows me to perhaps consider the petitions and with the Spirit's guidance, perhaps, even change or decide not to approach God with certain petitions.
How could a person develop a more effective prayer life?
How are you developing your own prayer life?
Just Pray!
In Christ,
David P
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