Prayer Tip: The Important Places
Daily Scripture
Scripture: Luke 2:41-50 (CEB)
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom. After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t know it. Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends. When they didn’t find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were shocked.
His mother said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We’ve been looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he said to them.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
What if I told you that you could have the cell phone number of the President of the United States? Or, that you could see the Queen of England any time you wanted to? Wouldn’t you feel honored to have direct access to such an important person? Wouldn’t you feel safe knowing that you had the ear of someone so powerful?
The truth is we have direct access to someone more powerful than anyone on this Earth. Sometimes it is easy to take the gift of prayer for granted. God welcomes us to come to him anytime with our concerns and problems. He doesn’t have office hours and days off. You don’t have to download an app for access. You simply need to bow your head and you are able to speak to the creator of the universe. What a blessing it is to know we can call on his name!
As we focus on how we can share our faith with those who are younger than we are, and how we can create important spaces God can use to build relationships with future leaders, remember we aren’t doing any of this alone. Let’s all join in praying that God will guide us and use our best efforts to build God’s kingdom ever stronger and more enduring.
Prayer
Heavenly father, you are a good and loving father. Thank you for the gift of prayer and the gift of your presence. Please help us to remember to turn to you first so you can hear our prayers and guide our hearts and minds. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GPS Insights
Ashly Cooley
This week's prayer tip is by Ashly Cooley. She has been on staff since 2015 and this is the best job she has ever had. She is passionate about serving the Lord, normalizing mental health care, and is a self proclaimed bibliophile. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, extended family and friends as well as dancing badly and snuggling her dog, Bessie.
