September 26, 2022
Daily Devotion:
“Spiritually Shaped by the Prayer… “
Acts 7:59-60
New International Version
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
More pertinent is the question of how, when, and under what Circumstances God answers our prayers. Who among us hasn't prayed fervently that God Would heal someone with a terminal illness, only to watch them die? Is prayer an exercise in futility, or do we simply accept that it is for us to pray and for God to heal...or not to heal? Surely the same principle applies to God forgiving our enemies, or else God would be compelled to forgive everyone on whose behalf we fervently prayed! Because that obviously cannot be the case, the question remains: Why pray for our enemies? Could it be that prayers for others are more for our soul's good than for theirs?
The question dying to be asked is: Have I considered that I am spiritually shaped by the prayers that I pray (or don't pray) on behalf of others?
