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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Thursday, February 5, 2004 Places of Prayer |
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Frontline Devotion for
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, by Penny Risen
Bible text:
Acts 15: 36, 16:15
Some are rocky grottos in remote corners of the countryside; many are mighty
temples and cathedrals in wealthy cities, while others are tiny altars in
woodland chapels. In some religions, millions of the faithful make pilgrimages
to certain holy sites to worship alongside throngs of fellow believers. These
devout people feel a need to find strength in numbers while they speak to God. On individual retreat, others closet themselves alone in cells for private,
extended devotions.
Places of prayer come in all shapes and sizes. When and where you choose to
speak to God can be very simple and personal, or very formal and structured.
Your place of prayer might be a quiet corner of your home, the bedside at
evening, outdoors on a walk or even in your car during a busy commute. An open
heart is all that's needed.
In today's reading, a peaceful place of prayer brings together a man in need of
renewal and a woman who would become a stronghold of faith for her part of the
world.
Paul was going through a frustrating stretch of wandering, feeling that the
Spirit wasn't calling him to witness in this place or that. Then Paul had a
vision: Come to Macedonia to help my people, the man is his dream pleaded.
Excited by the renewed calling, Paul and Silas went immediately. Paul was
convinced that God had called him to proclaim the Good News there in the Roman
colony.
On the Sabbath day, they left the city of Philippi and went outside the gate by
the river. They chose that peaceful, simple site because they supposed it was a
common place of prayer. Finding this spot must have had deep meaning for Paul: A
river is where Jesus had been destined to find John; He was baptized and was
claimed by the sign of the dove as the Beloved Son of God. Many times too, Jesus
and His disciples had paused by water to be refreshed, to preach and to pray.
This place of prayer in Macedonia also was part of God's plan for His new
believers.
Paul and Silas sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered. Lydia, a woman
of means as a dealer in purple cloth, had come there to pray as a follower of
God. The apostle recalled in Acts 16: 14: "The Lord opened her heart to listen
eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized,
she urged us, saying: 'If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come
and stay at my home.' "
These new believers, encouraged by Lydia's prayers, were brought to the Holy
Spirit in a land eager for Good News. The riverside, this simple place of prayer
had a gentle power for these new Christians. No temple, no cathedral, no rituals
or ancient ceremonies were needed that day --- and it reminds us that any spot
is suitable for sincere prayer and an open heart.
Can you think of someone who needs your prayer, someone who needs renewal in a
busy world? We all can get stalled on our journey like Paul and need someone
like Lydia --- ready with an open heart
--- to remind us that God's message of forgiveness and love is new every day.
In your place of prayer, widen your circle to include someone new as you seek
God's ear today.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, give me peace as we talk today. I'll try my
best to open my heart to all You have to say and the plans You have for me.
Thank you for allowing me to minister to others, even if it's only in a quiet
moment of prayer. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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