October Devotion
As I continue to share the devotions and prayers from the conference, here is number two. Prayer is much needed, and we dedicate so little time to it.
Whether you use the acronym of ACTS or some other cues to help with your prayers, consistent prayer is our goal. I like the ACTS plan where A is adoration, C is confession, T is thanksgiving, and lastly S is our supplications. Notice that three parts of that are God-directed before we ever get to our requests.
GOD is blessed by our prayers rising as a sweet savor to Him.
Too often we think of prayer as the last thing that we can do. It is the first and best that we can do. It is the primary work of the saints.
Think of how The Lord prayed in the Garden just before the Crucifixion. He cautioned the others to pray as they would need strength to face the coming events. He then faced the next day in strength. His disciples who had not remained in prayer soon fell apart and ran away.
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Join me in prayer: Father, we do love You but often do not tell You. We give You adoration in our prayer. Forgive us our prayerlessness when so much is needed.
Father we echo the prayer of James. At this moment we lift up all our members and their families. We ask You to attend to our needs, both spiritual and physical.
You have called us to pray for peace. We pray for peace in war-torn areas. We pray for more people to come to saving knowledge of You, LORD JESUS which brings more peace.
LORD, you honor work. We pray that our work individually and for the Order will bring You honor.
Guide us in the days ahead. Keep us focused on Your agenda and not ours.
In the matchless Name of JESUS, we pray.
Sandy Pace, IOKDS VP
Prayer of the Order
Almighty God, Eternal Father, look with Thy favour upon The King’s Daughters and Sons, and bless us for good in the land. Accept the hearty desires we bring to Thee for Thy service, and employ our administrations in whatever duty we can be of greatest use. Make us everywhere true to sign we wear, and to stand as Thine handmaidens and soldiers of old, by the cross of the Saviour. By purity and honour and unselfish behavior may we keep ever true to our allegiance to Jesus, and seek to labour not for self, but for others.
Amen
The devotions on prayer at our convention were inspiring and still memorable. Yes, we need to pray without ceasing as Christ expects. Thank you, Sandy, for these wonderful thoughts on prayer. We continue to pray for less division in our nation and more unity and love for one another. Let us humble ourselves in prayer.