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PRAYER
MONDAY, JULY 27
Acts 3:1

Luke 11:1

 

“…one of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, teach us to pray…”

 

PRAYER
 
The prayer meeting is a good place to measure the maturity of church members. It is generally observed that mature believers who understand the importance of corporate prayer will always desire to attend the church prayer meeting. May it be the desire of every Christian to join his church prayer meetings for it is by this means that prayers are lifted up to the Father as a body of Christ.
 
Men of prayer: The Apostles went up into the temple to pray. They were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. From Acts 2:46, it is clear that all the disciples were accustomed daily to resort to the temple for devotion. It had been deeply inculcated in their hearts to pray. They had imbibed this prayerful spirit from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. During their three years of training under Him, they were transformed into men of prayer. They could not but pray for what was necessary in their ministry.
 
Place of prayer: The place of prayer was the temple. It was the proper place to gather and pray, for Jesus Himself described the temple as “the house of prayer” (Luke 19:46). While prayer meetings were held in individual homes (as in Acts 12:12), the corporate prayer meeting is rightly conducted in the church sanctuary. The temple is the “Father’s house,” as Jesus said in John 2:16. So it is the place where prayer and supplications are made known to the Father.
 
Time of prayer: The description of “the hour of prayer” (Acts 3:1) indicates they had a set time for prayer. Here, Peter and John were prompt to go to the temple. An “hour of prayer” suggested it was a time solely devoted to prayer. The Jews observed three stated hours of prayer, probably based on Psalm 55:17 and Daniel 6:10. These were “the third hour” (Acts 2:15, i.e. 9 am), “the sixth hour” (Acts 10:9, i.e. 12 pm), and “the ninth hour” (Acts 3:1, i.e. 3 pm). They did not do other activities because that was the set prayer meeting time and they must be there.
 
Are you regularly attending your church prayer meeting? Do you have a regular schedule for personal and family prayers?
 
THOUGHT: Am I able to live a day without praying to God?

PRAYER: Father, teach me to pray regularly and continually.

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