ESOCS Devotional 15 August 2024 – Pray Before You Act
MEMORY VERSE: “All the people tried to touch him, for power was going out from him and healing them all.” Luke 6:19
TEXT: LUKE 6:12-26
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
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To pray is an act done by a man who relies on God. By so doing, one (Luke 6: 13-16) communicates with God and makes his request to Him. Some prayers are done to seek direction from God. Men who understand that they are instruments in the hands of God seek direction from God in prayer before engaging in key activities that concern God given mission. Prayer is also done as a way of preparation for a spiritual or physical task. In our text today, we see that after an all-night prayer, the Lord Jesus engaged in different tasks and the results were great.
First of all, it was the choosing of the twelve apostles out of numerous disciples. Secondly, he hosted a large crowd of people who got solution to the trouble that brought them seeking Jesus (Luke 6:17-19). Then He preached the gospel and gave prophetic insights into the life and what will become of sinners (Luke 6: 20-26).
This is a good guide for us all. No one can do the best in God’s service without prayer. Prayer is the key to success. God does not despise those who call upon Him in the time of trouble or need. With prayer, you can do or achieve that which is impossible with ordinary men.
Have you experienced greater success than the ordinary after prayer? Do try it. It is the reason the ESOCS Church hardly fails in her endeavor’s. We organize special prayers before key events. We have preparatory prayers for all anniversaries and organize special prayer sessions for issues or problems rising against the Church and members. You too, can start the culture of preparatory prayers before you or the family engage in any project or venture. Children education and family welfare should not be left out. Pray about everything and seek direction from God. He does not fail.
- God will never fail to answer your prayers done in sincerity and faith.
- Father, give me the understanding and will to always rely on you in prayers, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Joshua 9:1-end; Judges 13:1-end; Luke 1:5-38
ESOCS Devotional 15 August 2024
