praying effectively: Focus on Being a Witness (Acts 1, 13:47)

(Acts 1:4-8)  Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

(Acts 13:47)  For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”

Reminder:  "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will.  When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!

It is God's will:

- that we do not worry about when the rapture will happen and the Tribulation begin, only God knows when that will be (Acts 1:7)

- that we focus on being witnesses, in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

- that everyone in the world should hear the gospel message (Acts 1:8, 13:47)

Today's prayer: 

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being in control of all things, even timelines and the order of all things.  Help us not to be fearful or worry about when the Tribulation will begin.  Help us be confident in Your word that the rapture will happen first, because You are a God of order and fairness. 

Help Your children be obedient to Your calling, to go where You ask us.  Help us make Your presence known throughout the world.  Guide us to share the GOOD news about salvation in Your Spirit of love and power, no matter where we are.  Amen.