Dave's Diary

Prayer

Before you read, I invite you to pray this prayer based on Psalm 119:89-90

Lord, Your word is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens;
and Your faithfulness continues through all generations.
So speak to me now, I pray. Amen.

Briefly prepare your heart in silence, and ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your awareness to the voice of God, coming to you through His Word.

Reading

Matthew 9:35-38 

“Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (v.38)

As Jesus taught the way of God, proclaimed the good news of God’s redeeming love, and demonstrated it with miracles, desperate people flocked to Him in their droves. Jesus was moved with deep compassion for the harassed and helpless multitudes, adrift without spiritual guidance.

It is striking, then, that before Jesus sent His disciples out to minister to the crowds (in the very next verse), He commanded them to pray for workers to be sent out into the spiritual “harvest field”; and by that He meant the “harvest field” of these lost and broken people. In the very next verse they would become the answer to their own prayer. But first they had to pray, because they had to catch the Lord’s heart of love and compassion for the crowds, before they could be effective in their mission to them. First their hearts had to be prepared through prayer.

As people raised on the value of being decisive and taking action, stopping to truly pray before taking action can seem a waste of time. It is not! In the Kingdom of God, prayer demonstrates our dependence on the Lord, our submission to His will, and our desire to do things His way and in His power. Prayer opens us up to receive God’s compassion, guidance, wisdom, courage, and strength for the task at hand.

Absolutely, we are called to be people of action. But first, we are commanded to be people of prayer. So let’s keep this devotion brief today and get to prayer!

To which situation in your diary for today is Jesus calling you to apply this command … right now?

Contemplation

Please take time to ponder what Jesus has commanded us. Turn this declaration over in your mind. Keep it in mind throughout the day and live in step with Your King, Jesus.

As a disciple of Jesus Christ: 

• I will pray before I act.

Lord Jesus, I trust in You! I bring you this situation in my life. I surrender it to You and I pray that You will send me into it as Your instrument of grace. Amen.