Verse: Romans 12:11-13
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Devotion
This is one of those passages that you could write four devotionals for! Take a moment to read it over again slowly and think about which part is speaking to you. There’s so much good stuff in there.
For me it’s verse 12 this morning. Specifically, “faithful in prayer.” I have some people I am praying for on a regular basis. I try to be consistent. But sometimes I get discouraged. Does this really help? Is anything changing? Will I even know if it does? It can be easy to just give up. This verse challenges and encourages me.
I think I could rewrite it this way: “In good times be joyful, in hard times be patient, in all times be faithful in prayer.” There will be good times, and that’s a blessing. We should enjoy those times! But through them he exhorts us to keep on praying. There will be bad times too. We need to have patience through those times and not give up. And also, keep on praying. Keep on praying. Keep on praying.
When I look at my prayer life, is “faithful” a word I would use to describe it? Here’s a thought that helps me sometimes, maybe it will help you: My part is to pray. It’s not my part to answer the prayer. That’s God’s part. I don’t have to stress about that. I can pray and trust my loving God and Father to respond in his time and in his way.
And one more thought, it is so easy for me to narrowly define prayer as asking for things. Even if they are good things, that’s a pretty anemic version of prayer! Prayer can be so much more! Prayer is a privilege. It is a beautiful invitation to be in relationship with my Savior. It is a chance to talk to God and even hear from you.
I hope this encourages you in your prayer life today. Don’t give up. And don’t get too focused on results! Let prayer be it’s own powerful part of your relationship with God. In all times, be faithful!
Author: Christian Dunn
Recent Comments