In this series of Church Without Walls we’re suggesting to you that church looks like spending time with God. Spending time with God makes room for the Holy Spirit to meet your deepest needs. We encourage personal devotions using scripture to guide us as a helpful tool in allowing God to work in our hearts. In this devotion there is some encouragement (and a challenge) to pray bold prayers.
Make room for the Holy Spirit to meet your deepest needs.
CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS ACTIVITY CHALLENGE
Devotion Activity #5
Acts 4: 23-31
“As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God:
“O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David.”
And as a result of their prayer, God shook the earth!
Giving all praise and thanks to God, the people positioned themselves before God in prayer. This is vital if we are to see God move. Ad then they asked something very bold:
“Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (v30)
You could say God answered!
“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (v31)
Bold Prayers
There is something powerful when we join together in prayer. Jesus told us in Matt 18:20, “where two or three are gathered in my name, there I will also be.”
Several times throughout the Bible we are encouraged to get together and pray in agreement, just as Peter and John did with their people.
Let’s be honest, this is not always an easy thing to do, especially if you don’t know the people very well who you are praying with. But prayer doesn’t need to be long, hard or awkward!
An easy way to start is to pray with your family members. Then as you gain confidence, pray with some friends, and then if you are really bold, pray with someone you don’t know! I have never been turned down when I have offered to pray for someone, even if they are not yet a follower of Christ. And it definitely brings unity when we stand together in prayer.
If you want some encouragement to pray bold prayers, check out this article.
The Confidence to Pray Bold Prayers
CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS
Here are some ways you can pray this week:
- Say prayers with your kids as they go to bed.
- Say a prayer of thanks as you sit down to eat.
- Invite friends for a meal and pray with them before they leave.
- Notice someone in your community who is unwell and offer to pray for them.
If you don’t know what to pray, open your Bible and read scripture. The Psalms are great for offering prayers of thanksgiving. Another great thing about community, is that you can also ask for prayer when you need it. Don’t be shy in reaching out for prayer if you are unwell or would appreciate someone standing with you over a situation you are facing.
Even though we are a Church without walls, don’t let that stop you from praying together.