February 12th, 2026 HRBC Devotion
Day 4: Pray First, Then Act
Bible Verse
'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.' - Ephesians 3:20-21
'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.' - Ephesians 3:20-21
When faced with challenges or decisions, what's your first instinct? Most of us immediately start brainstorming solutions, making phone calls, or taking action. Prayer often becomes our last resort - something we turn to when our own efforts have failed to produce results. But what if we flipped this approach? What if instead of acting first and praying later, we prayed first and then acted? This simple shift in order can transform not only our outcomes but our entire relationship with God.
Prayer isn't just about asking God for help; it's about aligning our hearts with His will, seeking His wisdom, and acknowledging our dependence on Him. When we pray before we act, we invite God into the process from the beginning rather than asking Him to bless our plans after we've already made them. The church at Antioch modeled this beautifully. They were worshiping and praying when the Holy Spirit spoke to them about sending missionaries. Their actions flowed from their prayer life, not the other way around. This is why their ministry had such power and effectiveness - it originated in the prayer closet, not in human planning sessions.
Remember, we'll never be a church that prays until we become individuals who pray. Your personal prayer life reveals what you truly believe about prayer's importance and effectiveness. When we make prayer our first response rather than our last resort, we position ourselves to see God work in ways that exceed our human understanding and abilities.
Prayer isn't just about asking God for help; it's about aligning our hearts with His will, seeking His wisdom, and acknowledging our dependence on Him. When we pray before we act, we invite God into the process from the beginning rather than asking Him to bless our plans after we've already made them. The church at Antioch modeled this beautifully. They were worshiping and praying when the Holy Spirit spoke to them about sending missionaries. Their actions flowed from their prayer life, not the other way around. This is why their ministry had such power and effectiveness - it originated in the prayer closet, not in human planning sessions.
Remember, we'll never be a church that prays until we become individuals who pray. Your personal prayer life reveals what you truly believe about prayer's importance and effectiveness. When we make prayer our first response rather than our last resort, we position ourselves to see God work in ways that exceed our human understanding and abilities.
Reflection Question:
What situation in your life do you need to bring to God in prayer before taking action?
What situation in your life do you need to bring to God in prayer before taking action?
Quote:
So instead of us acting and then praying, we need to pray and then act.
- Dr. Gregory Batchelor
So instead of us acting and then praying, we need to pray and then act.
- Dr. Gregory Batchelor
Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the times I've relied on my own understanding and strength before seeking You. Help me develop the habit of praying first and acting second. Teach me to trust in Your wisdom and timing rather than rushing ahead with my own plans. Amen.
Father, forgive me for the times I've relied on my own understanding and strength before seeking You. Help me develop the habit of praying first and acting second. Teach me to trust in Your wisdom and timing rather than rushing ahead with my own plans. Amen.
No Comments