SCRIPTURE:
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
DEVOTIONAL:
I think that first directive is pretty easy. It’s easy to rejoice when we have hope. But when tribulation hits, it can be very difficult to be patient, and to wait in expectation. It can be difficult to remember that hope we were just rejoicing in! I think the key to both of these lies in that last piece of the verse: be constant in prayer. When we’re constant in prayer, we can be patient in tribulation just like we can rejoice in hope. Prayer keeps our perspective clear because it keeps our focus on our Creator, on the One who will deliver us from (or through) the tribulation when it comes. Prayer helps our rejoicing be centered properly on God instead of on our own works, wisdom, or talent. Fasting is a great opportunity to be intentional about prayer, because we have a physical reminder that is constantly bringing our focus back to God. Fasting creates space in our physical lives that we can choose to fill with prayer. When hunger pangs hit, allow them to refocus your attention on God, and turn to Him in prayer.
PRAYER:
God, help me be more constant in my conversation with You. Let my heart desire a prayer life that doesn’t simply consist of me scrolling through my list of requests, but help me learn to have a true conversation with You. Teach me to pour my heart out to You in a way that brings about rejoicing in hope as well as patience in tribulation. I want to be someone who converses with You, and not someone who just talks at You. Help me slow down enough to relay my thoughts, my heart, my praises, and my requests to You. Let this fast be a way to build a new habit of constant conversation with You.
READING PLAN:
- Acts 12
- Acts 13
- Acts 14
- Acts 15
- Acts 16
- Acts 17
- Acts 18
- Acts 19
- Acts 20
- Acts 21
- Acts 22
- Acts 23
