Today’s devotion comes from Acts 1:12-14.
“12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Acts 1:12-14.
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Place for Prayer should be free from distractions and accolades. “So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the LORD.” 2 Kings 4:33 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 Here, in today’s Scripture, likewise, we notice that they went up to the upper room to pray away from the crowds and the distractions.
People of Prayer should include each of us. In today’s Scripture, rather than just state the apostles went up to the upper room to pray, the Scripture mentions the individual names of each of them (Judas Iscariot, the only other one, was dead after he betrayed Jesus.) Each of us is important. Throughout Scripture, we see that prayer is not reserved for priests, ministers, and elders, but all people are commanded to pray from the greatest to the least. “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. In Jonah Chapter 3, we can learn a lesson where we read: “Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.” Jonah 3:5. “But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.” Jonah 3:8.
Purpose for Prayer together is “one mind”. Here, in today’s Scripture, we read: “These all with
one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
Acts 1:14 Elsewhere, in Scripture, we read verses such as: “Day by day continuing with
one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,”
Acts 2:46 “it seemed good to us, having become of
one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,”
Acts 15:25 “Be of the same
mind toward
one another; do not be haughty in
mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”
Romans 12:16 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same
mind with
one another according to Christ Jesus,”
Romans 15:5 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in
one spirit, with
one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
Philippians 1:27 “make my joy complete by being of the same
mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on
one purpose.”
Philippians 2:2
Persistent in prayer is our devotion. “pray without ceasing;”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Here, in today’s Scripture, we read that they were “continually devoting themselves to prayer”. We remember the parable of Jesus about the widow who demanded justice from the judge in Luke 18:1-8. “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 