Devoted
Acts 6:4
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
The early church understood something we can easily forget: prayer and the Word are not competing practices, they are complementary. When the apostles were faced with growing demands, they didn’t choose to abandon one for the other; instead, they committed to both. Why? Because prayer without the Word drifts into feelings, and the Word without prayer dries into formality. But together, they create a Spirit-led rhythm that fuels the life of the church.
This is why the apostles made it clear: we must devote ourselves to both. Devotion implies more than casual engagement. It’s consistency, commitment, and priority. When you devote yourself to the Word and prayer, you position yourself to be led by the Spirit. That devotion produces discernment, clarity, and power. It also ensures that what you build is on a true foundation, not your own wisdom or effort.
For us today, this means carving out time where both are present—reading the Word and then letting prayer breathe it into our spirit. It means letting Scripture guide how we pray, and letting prayer soften our hearts to receive the Word. When Word and prayer walk together, the Spirit leads, and the church grows strong.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to live a life devoted to both Your Word and prayer. Don’t let me lean into one at the expense of the other, but teach me to walk in the fullness of both. May my devotion to these practices keep me Spirit-led, steady, and fruitful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
The early church understood something we can easily forget: prayer and the Word are not competing practices, they are complementary. When the apostles were faced with growing demands, they didn’t choose to abandon one for the other; instead, they committed to both. Why? Because prayer without the Word drifts into feelings, and the Word without prayer dries into formality. But together, they create a Spirit-led rhythm that fuels the life of the church.
This is why the apostles made it clear: we must devote ourselves to both. Devotion implies more than casual engagement. It’s consistency, commitment, and priority. When you devote yourself to the Word and prayer, you position yourself to be led by the Spirit. That devotion produces discernment, clarity, and power. It also ensures that what you build is on a true foundation, not your own wisdom or effort.
For us today, this means carving out time where both are present—reading the Word and then letting prayer breathe it into our spirit. It means letting Scripture guide how we pray, and letting prayer soften our hearts to receive the Word. When Word and prayer walk together, the Spirit leads, and the church grows strong.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to live a life devoted to both Your Word and prayer. Don’t let me lean into one at the expense of the other, but teach me to walk in the fullness of both. May my devotion to these practices keep me Spirit-led, steady, and fruitful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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