Transformed Lives
As we continue diving into the topic of prayer, today’s devotional specifically focuses on the power prayer has on transforming lives. Before we get started, let’s prepare our hearts and minds through prayer.
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and allowing me to have access to Your presence. Holy Spirit, I need You. Increase my sensitivity to You, Lord, so I can better follow You. Remind me of the power of prayer and the transformation You bring to not only my heart but also to those around me. In Your loving name, amen.
Acts 16:22-34 (NLT)
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
Every Sunday we have the opportunity to come together as a church community to receive prayer from the Tree Church Prayer Team for our specific needs. One Sunday, I was watching what seemed like a river of people walking up to the front of the auditorium to receive prayer. Have you asked to receive prayer from others for your specific needs? If not, what’s stopping you?
Like the prisoners—and even more so the jailer—I was a witness, my heart stirred and drawn closer to God as I observed our brothers and sisters in Christ praying for one another. The members of the prayer team openly shared their prayers, just as Paul and Silas boldly proclaimed theirs. Both embody a faith lived out loud, inviting those around them to draw closer to God. Do your children, family, and friends hear your prayers? Do you respond to God’s grace and goodness in a way that allows others to witness His glory?
The prayer team’s prayers transform lives. Paul and Silas’ prayers transformed lives. Do you believe your prayers have the power to transform lives?
Friends, God is able to use our prayers to transform the hardest of hearts. Let Paul and Silas be an example of living our faith out loud for God’s Kingdom.
Take some time to reflect and talk with God about your prayer life. You can use the prompts below to get you started:
Lord, help me to live my faith out loud by…
Holy Spirit, guide me in my prayer life…
There is transformation power in prayer, friends.
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and allowing me to have access to Your presence. Holy Spirit, I need You. Increase my sensitivity to You, Lord, so I can better follow You. Remind me of the power of prayer and the transformation You bring to not only my heart but also to those around me. In Your loving name, amen.
Acts 16:22-34 (NLT)
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”
Every Sunday we have the opportunity to come together as a church community to receive prayer from the Tree Church Prayer Team for our specific needs. One Sunday, I was watching what seemed like a river of people walking up to the front of the auditorium to receive prayer. Have you asked to receive prayer from others for your specific needs? If not, what’s stopping you?
Like the prisoners—and even more so the jailer—I was a witness, my heart stirred and drawn closer to God as I observed our brothers and sisters in Christ praying for one another. The members of the prayer team openly shared their prayers, just as Paul and Silas boldly proclaimed theirs. Both embody a faith lived out loud, inviting those around them to draw closer to God. Do your children, family, and friends hear your prayers? Do you respond to God’s grace and goodness in a way that allows others to witness His glory?
The prayer team’s prayers transform lives. Paul and Silas’ prayers transformed lives. Do you believe your prayers have the power to transform lives?
Friends, God is able to use our prayers to transform the hardest of hearts. Let Paul and Silas be an example of living our faith out loud for God’s Kingdom.
Take some time to reflect and talk with God about your prayer life. You can use the prompts below to get you started:
Lord, help me to live my faith out loud by…
Holy Spirit, guide me in my prayer life…
There is transformation power in prayer, friends.
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