Devoted to Prayer — Acts 1:14
Sep 16, 2026 29
Jesus had told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. What did they do while they waited? They were devoted to prayer, trusting that Jesus would do what he had promised.
Acts 1:14
[14] All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (ESV)
They Prayed Like It Was True
Luke says the disciples were devoting themselves to prayer. They stuck to it. Prayer was at the centre of their community life while they waited for the Spirit to come.
They had seen the risen Jesus. He had given them a mission to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, and he had promised the power they would need. Now, together in Jerusalem, they were waiting for him to fulfil that promise.
They believed Jesus, and they prayed like it was true. Their persistence expressed their dependence on God. Their expectancy rested on Jesus’ word. They were calling on God to do what he had promised.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
Devoted to Prayer as We Wait for Christ
The disciples were waiting for Pentecost. We are not. The Holy Spirit has already come. If you have believed the gospel, his Spirit lives in you.
We are waiting for Christ to return. And while we wait, prayer remains central to our lives. Jesus continues to work through ordinary disciples like us, empowered by his Spirit to take his word to the world.
We long to see people hear the gospel, turn to Christ and find hope in him. We also know there are seasons of dryness, suffering and little visible fruit. God is still at work through the ordinary things as his people cling to him.
So we keep praying. We ask God to go ahead of us in the mission he has given us and bring people into our lives to whom we can offer refuge, security and hope in Christ.
If we don’t feel devoted to prayer, we can bring that to God too. We can ask him to help us pray with greater persistence and commitment.
The Good News is…
Jesus has kept his promise to send his Spirit. We can depend on him daily as we make known the Saviour who lived, died and rose again for us. Our confidence is in him, including in seasons when we see little fruit. Let’s keep asking God to draw people to himself as they hear and believe the gospel.
Reflection
Who is one person you could persistently pray for this week, asking God to give you an opportunity to offer them hope in Christ?
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited