Readiness to do His work
During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:3-5 God opened the opportunity for every believer to be able to come to Him boldly in prayer. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16). God told the believers to come to His throne of grace. He uses prayer so you could align your life with God’s will so that He could manifest His glory and power through you. You are not to come presumptuously or arrogantly to God in prayer. You are to come to Him humbly because the purpose of prayer is not to convince God to change your circumstances but to help you see how you could be involved in what He is doing around you. This is what is described from the text when Jesus told the disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Part of waiting for God is to devote time in prayer which the disciples did. ”When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). Their decision to gather together to pray did not persuade the Holy Spirit to come upon them, instead their prayer brought them readiness to follow God in what He will do through them. When the day of Pentecost arrived, God filled the disciples with the Holy Spirit so they could be His witnesses. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jerusalem at that time was filled with travelers from around the world. God filled the disciples so they could carry the Gospel to every nation. It was in their one accord that they spent time praying that prepared their hearts to hear from God and be obedient to His will. When you pray it helps you to reflect on what God wants for you. It is designed so you could adjust your will to God’s will. “May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). If God has not responded to your prayer it might be that he wants you to pray aligning with God’s purpose. Instead of focusing on what you would like to see happen in His answer to your prayer, realize that God’ concern is with what to do through your life because you let His will be your will.
Blessings,
