Prayer Tip: It's Never Too Late
Daily Scripture
Acts 2:1-12, NRSV
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?
Prayer Tip
by Ashly Cooley, Executive Assistant to Locations & Care at Resurrection
The Gospel of John described the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth and said we can depend on it to lead us in the way of truth. So often, I look to the news to get my truth, often in numbers. Numbers of unemployed people, number of new Covid cases, number of recent homicides. They paint a bleak picture. It’s not that these numbers are incorrect, but they are not the whole truth. They do not capture the Bible’s truth which promises hope, peace, and redemption.
I read 1 John 3 this week. It says, “My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.” God’s reality of love is not the reality I see on television or reading the news. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit to be led to God’s truth. We need to practice love, so we are living in God’s reality. We should seek to be in the realm of God’s reality and truth if we want to experience true peace and purpose.
Prayer is a wonderful way to connect with the Holy Spirit and to practice leading with love. Here are some ways you might use prayer to connect with the Holy Spirit this week:
- Pray, thanking God for your blessings. Breathe in and out five times. Think about your heart. What is troubling you? What is heavy on your heart? Breathe in and out and give them over to God one by one. Thank God for hearing the concerns of your heart.
- Set a timer for 5 minutes. As you breathe in and out five times, pray that God will help you think of ways you can act in love. Reflect on ways people have shown you love in the past or times you have felt God’s love. Let this inspire you with ways to show love to the people in your community.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for promising we will find you if we seek you. Help us connect with your Spirit. Show us your truth. Help us act in love and live your reality of truth, love, light, and peace.
