August 27 - The Power of Prayer
August 27
The Power of Prayer
Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11Therefore we also pray always for you that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, 12that He’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy so that it all amounts to something. (The Message)
YOU’LL NEVER MAKE right choices without prayer. Regular prayer. Real prayer.
Wait! Don't panic. You may think prayer is a real drag. You may think it's hard or boring. Your understanding of prayer may come from your childhood or from listening to grown-ups talk to God in thee's and thou's or six-syllable theological words you never heard of.
Relax. Prayer is simply talking to God about your thoughts, feelings, and concerns. God really does understand modern English (even the bizarre language spoken by your brother or sister). You can be totally confident that God hears you when you pray. In fact, God eagerly waits for you to come to Him in prayer. You are His child, and He values every minute you spend with Him!
Why is prayer so great?
1. Prayer helps you to focus on God. It helps you get to know him better. The psalmist said, "Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always" (Psalm 105:4, NIV). When you pray, you "unplug" your mind from the television and CD player and "plug in" to God.
2. Prayer is intimacy with God. When you pray, you discover what it means to be intimate with God. The Bible says that when Moses entered the tabernacle, "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend" (Exodus 33:11, NIV). That is what happens in prayer. You become friends with God. He becomes a deep, intimate, personal friend who loves you unconditionally.
3. Prayer is a vital weapon in making right choices. If you want to stop lying, pray; praying will add God's power to your desire. If you want to be more loving toward your brother, pray; that will add God's help to your good intentions. If you need more patience, more compassion, or more self-control, pray; prayer will add God's energy to your efforts.
When we pray, God takes action! So pray. Pray for yourself. Pray for your family. Pray for your friends. And watch God work.
REFLECT: How often do you pray (not counting grace at meals)? How often do you think you should pray? When is a good time for you to pray every day? (Morning? After school? Bedtime?) How long do you plan to pray every day? (Five minutes? Ten minutes? Fifteen? More?) Tell someone else about your commitment to pray.
PRAY: Make a list of four or five kinds of right choices you need to make more often or more consistently (like honesty, compassion, faithfulness, fairness, and so on). Pray for at least one item every day, asking God to help you develop that virtue.