Daily Devotional with Pastor Eric and Rita Bahme: Daily Devotion from Pastor Eric & Rita

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Pray without Ceasing

Today's Devotional Reading: Prov. 28-29; Ps. 60; Rom. 16

CLICK on the Scripture above to link into your daily reading plan.

June 4, 2014

By reading the scripture above each day you will read the Old Testament through in one year and the New Testament through twice in a year. This will change your life. Start Today!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

TODAY'S WORD

, I heard the story of a mother who was talking on the phone to a friend who had asked for prayer. Her little girl bounced into the room and stood for a moment to listen. As she heard her mom praying on the phone, she said to her, "Is that God on the phone? I need to talk to Him too."

Wouldn't it be great if we could just pick up the phone and talk to God? Well, in a sense we can-through prayer. Prayer is something that we all need to be doing. It's one of the most important practices of the Christian life. It is as essential to knowing God and growing spiritually as breathing is to living. The Bible says that we should pray without ceasing, for that is God's will for us (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).

Prayer is the means of communication whereby I am hearing from and speaking to God Almighty. The apostle Paul said we should pray:

Always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:18-19)

Paul is teaching us that that we should pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests for all the saints. That is also what Jesus said: "Men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1). Prayer is not an option in the Christian life. It's a privilege. It's an adventure. And it is commanded.

A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY

Good morning, dear Father; thank you for this day,

Help me to follow you in every way.

Let me speak as you speak, and do as you do;

Let me help others, as you help them, too.

Help me to be honest, don't let me play games,

Help me to grow, yet still stay the same.

Help me not to be selfish, to give of my heart, my mind and my labor;

Give all - not just part.

Help me to love others, my family, my friends,

Bless all of my foes, help me make amends.

Help me be kind, Father, where I am needed, let