Happy Monday!

Acts 1:12, 14 “They went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives…They all continued praying together.”

I teach first grade children. They are between the ages of early 6’s to late 7’s in age. Often I have to say this phrase, “You have two ears and one mouth. This arrangement was not done by accident. You were meant to listen twice as much as you talk.”

After the disciples came back from the Mount of Olives they gathered together and continued to pray. They prayed for ten days with just a bit of preaching. Those 11 men who prayed for ten days led 3000 people to come to know Christ. These men listened to God for ten days and did little talking. What do you suppose those men prayed about and what do you suppose God told them in those ten days? I think God was preparing them for their missions after the day of Pentecost. These men had experienced the living God in their midst. They experienced His teaching and witnessed Him perform miracles of healing and change. The disciples were given the power of the Holy Spirit to heal others and to speak in the name of Jesus. They were given the authority to speak, heal, and teach in His name. The disciples were given these abilities and these instructions while they spent time praying more and talking less. As these men were praying they were waiting on the Lord. They waited not only for His return, but for His instructions. They prepared their hearts and minds for the receiving of His Word. And now it was time to take the Word out to the people of Palestine and the surrounding areas.

In our world of instant everything waiting is something we do not do well. It is the same with our relationship to God. We want instant answers to our prayers. We want instant healing from brokenness. God does not work on our time. He works on His time.

Spend time in prayer. Not just prayers for parking spaces and something we want to be on sale, but spend time in prayer getting to know the One who loves us most. When you pray, listen to God and be willing to wait upon the Lord.

Take joy in the journey. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.