The Upper Room Devotion for Tuesday, February 6, 2024, was written by Mary Hunt Webb of New Mexico.
Scripture
17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Ephesians 6:17-20 NRSV
Author's Thoughts
After my husband and I married, we had conflicting schedules. I was working on my bachelor's degree, and he often worked evening shifts as a meteorologist. I came home one afternoon to find a note taped to the fireplace. We began communicating via these short notes when our schedules didn't line up. We stuck them on the bathroom mirror, the door to the garage, in the kitchen, and in other places where they were sure to attract attention. My son didn't understand our history with the notes and disliked them, but my husband and I knew they were love notes with the intent to maintaining communication.
Like those notes, our prayers don't have to be long-winded. Short prayers throughout the day strengthen our relationship with God. The apostle Paul tells us to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, [and] give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess. 5:16-18, NRSVUE). This means not just praising God for the things we are happy about, but also for things that might not give us joy. Rejoicing, praising, praying, and thanking God are all ways we can include God in our day, and I believe it is a wonderful way to honor God.
Pastor Anthony's Thoughts
Friends,
Taking time to commune with God through prayer and praise offers us an invaluable opportunity to converse with God. Prayers do not need to be long, eloquent, nor full of five syllable words. Short direct prayers allow us to focus on communicating with God effectively. Praying short prayers of thanksgiving, petition, and praise refresh and deepen our relationship with God, leading us to mature as people of faith. I invite you to intentionally take time to pray small prayers throughout your day.
Author's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for hearing even our shortest prayers. Help us remember that nothing is too trivial to pray about. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
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