visit the conversation at the One Prayer blogDaily Devotional by Greg Dumas
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Greg Dumas, Lead Pastor, The Crossing Church
1Timothy 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. NIV
I have three children, the youngest of which just turned two and a half. I often find myself asking him, “What’s in your hand”? The question is received with a host of reactions, some of which are really funny, and some not so much. When he is caught trying to put his favorite penny in his mouth, he shrugs his shoulders and hides his hands behind his back, as if to say “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
What he doesn’t yet understand or comprehend is the fact that the question is rhetorical and I often know the answer before I ask. In other words, his hands give way to the intent of his little heart. God often asks us “what is in your hand”, or in other words, “what are you holding on to in your heart?”
Hands that are Holy and lifted up aren’t just hands that are open and on display during prayer meetings. Holy hands are considered holy because the intent of the heart is holy. Jesus used the washing metaphor with his disciples and told them to “wash their hands and feet” describing the condition of their hearts after walking around every day in a pretty dirty world.
When it’s all said and done, the only way to truly get rid of anger and disputing is to admit, by way of the Lord’s fatherly promptings, what is really in our hearts? All of us are included, denominations, churches, leaders, and church members; we are all guilty of shrugging our shoulders and deflecting the look of our Heavenly Father. Once we stop pretending, He can heal us, protect us and unite us all over the world. His goal is our unity, and our unity is for His glory, but our cooperation through humility and prayer is necessary.
Maybe we could start by simply saying, “God we have all been selfish in our ambition and in our desires, we have treated each other with contempt, and have been angry without apology, heal our hearts and knit us together, through our prayers allow us to lift up holy hands everywhere, even to the ends of the earth.”
Have you ever tried to hide your real feelings from God? What happened when you showed Him what you were holding on to in your heart?
Join the conversationPraying For Our Churches
God has blessed us with so much. The One Prayer Series has shown us that He has also blessed us with the ability to be His Church. Thank God for that! Let’s pray that our churches would flourish in this environment and be a place where countless individuals in our communities find the ultimate freedom offered to us by Christ.
What else are you lifting up in prayer for your church this weekend?
Join the conversationDaily Devotional by Tim Lucas
Daily Devotional by Tim Lucas
One Prayer Daily Devotional
By Tim Lucas, Lead Pastor, Liquid Church
Eyes Wide Shut
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
Early in Church World, everyone receives 2 basic instructions about prayer:
1) Close your eyes (no peeking!)
2) Fold your hands (and keep them to yourself!)
It’s what “devoted” prayer looks like, right?
Not so much.
At least not according to the apostle Paul in Colossians 4:2.
In fact, true “devotion” means assuming the opposite posture…
Being ”watchful” …Eyes Wide Open!
And ”thankful” …Hands Extended in Gratitude!
Growing up, I thought prayer was all about concentrating reeeeeeally hard. Now that I’m an adult, I’m realizing “true prayer” is simply spending time with Abba and allowing Him to “open my eyes.”
Most of us walk through life with our eyes wide shut—oblivious to all the ways our Father is moving dynamically in our lives.
But true “prayer” OPENS OUR EYES to His presence—in the middle of a heated marital conflict…a crappy church meeting…a crisis at work—and there we echo the surprise of Jacob: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” (Genesis 28:16)
Who knew? God was here the whole time!
And when our eyes OPEN to God’s presence, guess what? Our hearts follow, and we become THANKFUL—brimming with gratitude that we’re not alone in this world but have Jesus by our side.
As we come together for One Prayer, are your eyes OPEN or SHUT?
Where have you seen Him recently in your life? Your relationships? Your church?
Even better: Where do you LONG to see Him at work? Please share your thoughts below.
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