Devoted to prayer

Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, I want us to revisit Rom. 12:12 and focus on Paul’s admonition to be devoted to prayer. There’s a connection between loving with Jesus and being devoted to prayer. If you are serious about being a consistent revelation of the love of Christ as your purpose in life, it makes sense that prayer would become a constant aspect of your relationship with Jesus. Jesus told His disciples in John 14-15 that if they abide in Him and He in them, they would bear much fruit for the glory of the Father—the Father of mercies. In fact, He told them that apart from Him, they could not bear fruit. In this context, Jesus promised, John 14:13-14 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 15:7-8 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” The encouragement Jesus gave to His disciples was this: To bear fruit for the glory of God, you need the help of the Lord Jesus. Just ask for it. Paul’s way of saying the same thing was, “Be devoted to prayer.” The live to love encouragement from this Scripture today is be devoted to prayer so you can live to love with Jesus. You aren’t living to love for Him, He’s living to love for you! This happens as you believe He lives inside you and you walk in intimate fellowship with Him. That intimate fellowship takes place as we pray constantly, asking Him for the grace, wisdom, and provision to know how He wants to love in any given circumstance with the people He puts in our paths. So today, be encouraged to devote yourself to prayer, asking whatever you need to be able to love with Jesus, offering to Him a living, holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com