Anchor Devotional
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Celebrate Prayer
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
Jesus’ followers were not strangers to prayer. Yet they asked Jesus to teach them to pray after observing His own pattern of prayer. It was simple, yet profound. Through prayer, these ordinary believers would come into the presence of their Father in heaven, the Creator of the whole universe.
What would it be like to live where it is against the law to pray? As a young captive living in a foreign land, Daniel knew. I have early memories of hearing the stories of Daniel and how he knelt three times a day before an open window, toward Jerusalem, to pray to the God he served (Daniel 6:19). His unwavering convictions were stronger than the king’s edict.
I suspect more people pray than you’d think, often in secret. A lot of prayers go up in sheer panic and total desperation. Our human hearts cry out for Someone who is greater and more powerful than we are.
In a moment of wonder, we breathe out, “Wow!” In a time of need, we cry, “Help!” When overcome with gratitude, we sing our “Thank you!” to the One who provides. Let prayer fill your life.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Matthew 6:5-15
INSIGHT
“When you recognize the festive and the still moments as moments of prayer, then you gradually realize that to pray is to live.” (Henri Nouwen, 1978)
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 25-26
Psalm 83
Acts 3-4
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