PrayerThots Devotional

God Exalts His Servants

Backgrounder on Matthew 20-23:
After Peter’s dramatic confession
of Jesus as “the Christ, the Son
of the living God” (16:16), Jesus
began to show his disciples,
how he must go to Jerusalem,
suffer many things, be killed and
raised again the third day (16:21).
After preparing His disciples for
the unexpected events which will
soon take place, Jesus begins
His final journey to Jerusalem.
Arriving to a hero’s welcome,
He is hailed as King, while making
His humble entrance into the city.

Lord, teach us Servanthood:
Jesus said: You know the rulers
of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and those who are great exercise
authority over them. Yet it shall
not be so among you. Whoever
desires to become great, let him
be your Servant. And whoever
desires to be first, let him be
your Slave; just as the Son of Man
did not come to be served, but to
Serve, and give His life a ransom
for many (Matt 20: 25-28). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 15)”

God Blesses Agreement in Prayer

Backgrounder on Matthew 16-19:
In these chapters, Matthew records
crucial incidents from Jesus’ life. It’s clear Jesus’ key concern is for
His disciples He will leave behind
to continue the work He had begun.
Healings and discourses, miracles
and parables all focus on Jesus’
faithful followers to prepare them
for the difficult day’s just ahead.

Lord, we will Agree in Prayer:
(Jesus said) Whatever You bind
on earth will be bound in heaven
and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven. Again
I tell you that if two of you agree
here on earth about anything
you ask, my Father in heaven
will do it for you. For where two
or three gather together as my
followers, I am there among them
(Matthew 18:18-20). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 14)”

Lessons from Paul’s Trials
(Prayer Walk thro Acts 21-28)

Backgrounder: Though Paul has
taken his last missionary journey,
his missionary career is far from
over. God now promotes him
from being a missionary to the
people to being a missionary
to the palace. God uses his
imprisonment to bring the gospel
to three Roman rulers: Felix,
Festus & Agrippa. Finally, Paul’s
ambition to reach Rome with the
gospel is at last realised, but not
without storm and shipwreck.

Lord, we see from Acts 21-28, that
Paul witnessed his faith in Christ
thro personal testimony, preaching
and defense before authorities.
As God’s people, we are also
chosen to reach the world.
Holy Spirit, Grant us boldness
and grace even as we purpose to
apply the lessons from Acts 21-28:
to Remember Parting Prayer;
to Share Christ to others and
to See from Your Perspective.Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Acts (May 13)”

Lessons from Paul’s Journeys
(Prayer Walk thro Acts 13-20)

Backgrounder: The book now
focuses on the ministry to Gentiles
and the spread of the church
around the world and Paul replaces
Peter as the central figure.
Paul completes three missionary
journeys and ends up being
imprisoned in Jerusalem and
transported to Rome.

Dear Lord, Paul’s missionary
adventures show us the gospel
should not be confined to one
corner of the world but the hope
be rightly offered to all humanity.
Help us not to have a silo mentality
with interest only in self and family.
But instead venture forth to witness
for Christ and involve in missions.
Thanks for showing some weapons
we can use to advance yr kingdom
and claim deliverance for our lives.
Help us invoke power of Prayer;
Help us invoke power of Fasting &
Help us invoke power of Praise.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Continue reading “Praying thro Acts (May 12)”

Nothing Impossible With God

Backgrounder on Matthew 16-19:
Matthew records crucial incidents
from Jesus’ life in these chapters.
Though Christ takes time to heal
an epileptic boy, pay His Temple
tax and confront the increasingly
hostile Pharisees, it is clear that His
primary concern is for His disciples
-those He will soon leave behind to
continue the work He had begun.
Healings and discourses, miracles
and parables all focus on Jesus’
faithful followers to prepare them
for the difficult day’s just ahead.

Lord, we place our Faith in You:
The disciples asked Jesus
privately: Why couldn’t we
cast out that (boy’s) demon?
Because of your Unbelief,
Jesus told them. I assure you,
even if you had faith as small as
a mustard seed you could say
to this mountain: Move from
here to there, and it would move.
Nothing would be impossible
(Matthew 17:19-20). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 11)”

God Gives Direction when U Seek:

Backgrounder on Matthew 12-15:
A turning point in Matthew’s gospel
occurs in chapter 12. Mounting
antagonism by the Jewish
religious leaders erupts into open
denunciation of Jesus. Attributing
His miracles to the power of Satan,
they demand yet another sign to
substantiate Jesus’ messianic claim
Because of their fierce rejection,
Jesus begins to speak in parables.
After a rude reception in his
hometown of Nazareth, Jesus
withdrew across the Sea of Galilee
to the regions of Tyre and Sidon in
order to escape growing opposition

Lord, we will Seek Your Direction:
Now those who had eaten were
about 5,000 men besides women
and children. Immediately Jesus
made His disciples get into the
boat and go before Him to the
other side while He sent the
multitudes away…(Then) He went
up on the mountain by Himself
to pray. Now when evening came,
He was alone there (Matt 14:21-23)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 10)”

God Promises Rest to You

Backgrounder on Matthew 8-11:
Matthew shared ten miracles to
demonstrate Jesus’ power over
disease, nature & the spirit world.
Christ then bestows that same
power and authority on His chosen
apostles and sends them out
as ambassadors of the kingdom.
He first instructs them how to act,
then warns them of the dangers
they will face, as he calls them
to committed discipleship.

Lord, we receive Your Rest:
Jesus said: Come to Me, all of u
who are weary and carry heavy
burdens, and I will give you Rest.
Take my yoke upon you.
Let me teach you, because I am
Humble & Gentle at heart, and
you will Find Rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy to bear, and
the burdens I give you is light
(Matt 11:28-30). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 9)”

God Blesses Those Who Believe

Backgrounder on Matthew 8-11:
Matthew shared ten miracles to
demonstrate Jesus’ power over
disease, nature & the spirit world.
Christ then bestows that same
power and authority on His chosen
apostles and sends them out
as ambassadors of the kingdom.
He first instructs them how to act,
then warns them of the dangers
they will face, as he calls them
to committed discipleship.

Lord, we come to You in Faith:
When He came down from the
mountain, a leper worshiped Him
saying: Lord if U are willing, U can
make me clean. Then Jesus put out
His hand and touched him saying:
I am willing, be cleansed. And
instantly the leprosy disappeared…
Now when Jesus had entered
Capernaum, a centurion came
pleading: Lord my servant is lying
at home paralysed. And Jesus said:
I will come and heal him. The
centurion answered: Only speak a
word & my servant will be healed…
Jesus said to those who followed:
I have not found such great faith
in Israel… Then Jesus said to the
centurion: Go your way; as you
have believed, so let it be done
for you. And his servant was
healed that same hour (Mt 8:1-13)
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 8)”

God Rewards Those Who Seek

Backgrounder on Matthew 5-7:
Jesus claimed to be the Messiah,
the king of the Jews. And this
section traditionally called the
Sermon on the Mount, focuses
on Relationship to God and our
inward attitude towards Him.

Lord, we will Ask, Seek & Knock:
Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and
the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds; and to him
who knocks, the door will be
opened (Matt 7:7-8). If you then,
being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father who
is in heaven give good things to
those who Ask Him (v11). Amen.
Continue reading “Prayer Thot for the Day (May 7)”

Challenges Can Boost Growth
(Prayer Walk thro Acts 8-12)

Backgrounder: Two years after
the Commission, only Jerusalem
had heard the good news.
In chapter 8, persecution hits,
scattering all but the apostles
into Judea and Samaria. Phillip
extends his witness to Africa thro
the conversion of visiting dignitary.
Saul experiences a confrontation
with the risen Lord on the road
to Damascus which transform
him from Saul the Antagonist
to Paul the Missionary. With the
conversion of Cornelius, the
outreach of the church is enlarged
to include Gentiles as well.
But it takes an unusual vision,
a stubborn vessel (Peter) and
a well-timed visit to break down
centuries of deep-seated prejudice

Dear Lord, thank you for the
book of Acts which records the
growth of the Christian church,
aided by the power of Holy Spirit.
Almighty God, You can work
thro any challenge or opposition.
Help us to realise that hostility
may come about because we
have been faithful witnesses.
Help us to seize opportunities
that opposition brings about.
Help us Submit to Your Will;
Help us Tune In to Your Plan &
Help us Tap to Your Power. Amen
Continue reading “Praying thro Acts (May 6)”