It all started with prayer
Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Acts 13:1-12(use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).
A magician, a governor, and a guy who’s just changed his name. It sounds like something straight out of the Harry Potter books - but Acts 13 gives us all that and more. And it starts with a group of people praying and fasting.
In a church where there wasn’t exactly an abundance of leaders, the Holy Spirit spoke. In obedience, they sent Barnabas and Saul on the first intentional mission trip - a journey that began in Jewish communities and moved towards Gentile ones in Cyprus. Along the way, they drew the attention of the proconsul (governor) and his advisor - a magician masquerading as a prophet. Bar-Jesus, also known as Elymas the sorcerer, opposed the Gospel, but the Holy Spirit, speaking through Saul, confronted his heart and left him blind. Sound familiar? Except this time, instead of repentance like Saul’s own story, it was the proconsul who believed. What a story! And, as if that wasn’t enough, it was at this point that Saul changed his name to Paul.
It all started because a church prayed, fasted, listened and responded.
Last year, some members of our parish organised a week of 24/7 prayer, inviting our congregations, as well as the local schools and neighbouring churches, to sign up for a slot. Sometimes I stole time from sleep to pray quietly by myself, listening for God’s voice and reading His Word. Other times I had the privilege of praying with locals curious about the giant marquee pitched on the old church’s foundations. It’s hard to measure the full impact of the prayer tent, but I know of people encountering God in powerful ways and of others who wouldn’t normally attend church step into a place of prayer.
I wonder what will happen as a result of our prayers and fasting in this season?
Let us pray: Holy Spirit, in our prayer and fasting, help us hear Your voice. Give us confidence in Your calling and courage to obey. Amen.