FRIDAY: PRAYER & PETITION
KEY PASSAGE
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
DEVOTIONAL
Paul’s encouragement to “pray in every situation” can often feel like one of the hardest things to do. However, what we must realize is that prayer is not a last resort, but a weapon to use as our first response. What might be preventing you from praying in every situation? Four things that could deter us from praying are:
1. Distraction - Our attention is pulled away from God.
2. Priority - We allow tasks, plans, and responsibilities to take priority over prayer.
3. Discipline - We fail to regularly practice prayer.
4. Doubt - We believe something other than the truth about God and His response to our prayers.
CHALLENGE
Begin today by assessing and addressing each of these four deterrents of prayer.
Eliminate distraction by putting your phone away.
Make prayer a priority by placing it before any other task you must do today.
Commit to discipline by dedicating at least ten minutes to prayer.
Pray with faith by bringing God your deepest concerns, your wildest dreams, and your greatest challenges.