A ministry of Moody Bible Institute
PEOPLE OF
P R AY E R
JANUARY 2023
Today with Mark Jobe
Prayer and Fasting
From the President of Moody Bible Institute
“Praying and fasting is not a new practice, but one that is deeply embedded
in the history of the church and mentioned throughout the Bible.”
When I was just
16, about one year
after I accepted
Christ as my
Savior, I decided
to follow Jesus by
spending time in
fasting and prayer.
I took a tent to the top of a mountain,
bringing only a bottle of water and my
Bible, determined to spend three days
alone with God. Of course, three days
is a long time for a teenage boy to go
without food, and by the time my fast
ended, my appetite was in overdrive.
Bursting into our home, I told my
mom, “I’m starving!”
While I no longer spend time in
a tent on a mountain, the practice of
prayer and fasting has remained an
important part of my Christian life. I
have fasted alone, with my wife, and
with our church community. This
past August I called the entire Moody
Bible Institute community to a time of
prayer and fasting as we asked God’s
blessing and protection on our school
and students.
Praying and fasting is not a new
practice, but one that is deeply
embedded in the history of the
church and mentioned throughout
the Bible. Fasting was often used
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as a time of spiritual preparation.
Nehemiah fasted and prayed before
setting out to rebuild the walls of
Jerusalem (Neh. 1:4). Moses fasted
for 40 days, preparing him to receive
the Ten Commandments (Ex. 34:28).
And Elijah fasted for 40 days before he
received fresh direction from God (1
Kings 19:8). As we consider spending
time in prayer and fasting, we have
no better example than Jesus. Our
Savior withdrew from others to spend
40 days communing with His Father
(Matt. 4:1–11).
We do not pray or fast to pay
penance. We are not trying to perform
such a significant sacrifice that God
will pay attention to us. There is
nothing we can do to gain the favor
of God besides what Jesus did on the
cross. But as we step away from our
routine, we are able to focus. Our
physical hunger accentuates our need
for God’s presence.
In Psalm 63, David writes from the
Desert of Judah that his deepest needs
can be met only through God: “You,
God, are my God, earnestly I seek
you; I thirst for you, my whole being
longs for you” (v. 1). While we may not
be in a physical desert, we too long for
God’s presence. Why? “Because your
love is better than life” (v. 3).

Practical Theology
When God Is Silent
by Dr. John Koessler
“Praying is not like pushing a button or pulling a lever.
The kind of prayer that Jesus describes grows out of a relationship.”
Prayer is a conversation with God. But
it is not like most of the conversations
we have. We do not see God’s face or
hear His voice. We cannot gauge the
response by observing body language
or facial expressions. How is it
possible to have a conversation when
God is the silent partner?
We know from Scripture that God
has a voice. According to the book of
Genesis, the first words ever spoken
were God’s words: “Let there be light,
and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). Yet,
the Bible also shows that God is no
chatterbox. God indeed spoke to
Moses “face to face, as one speaks
to a friend” (Ex. 33:11). He spoke to
Abraham the same way. But ordinary
conversation has never been God’s
primary communication mode.
Our conversations with God
are in response to what He has
already said. Jesus promised, “If you
remain in me and my words remain
in you, ask whatever you wish, and
it will be done for you” (John 15:7).
In this promise, Jesus emphasized
two essential aspects of prayer. The
first is relationship. Praying is not
For Further Study
like pushing a button or pulling a
lever. The kind of prayer that Jesus
describes grows out of a relationship.
More specifically, it grows out of a
relationship with Christ: “If you
remain in me.”
The verb translated as “remain”
means to abide or dwell. When we
pray as those who are in Christ, we
do not come to God from the outside.
We are already in communion with
God by virtue of our union with
Christ. Neither do we approach Him
as outsiders. Rather, we come to God
as His children (John 1:12; 1 John
3:1–2). Our aim is not to persuade
or pressure but merely to ask.
The second critical element
that Jesus mentions in John 15:7
is familiarity with what Christ has
said. The Bible shows us the kinds of
requests we can legitimately make
and what to expect in answer. God
may not grant all our requests. But He
hears every prayer and treats us as His
dear children. Although it is hard to
accept, just like a human parent, God’s
refusal is often more loving than if He
were to say yes.

To learn more, read When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray by John
Koessler (Kirkdale).
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE
Go Deeper
We hope these questions will help you consider (or discuss with others) what
God is teaching you through this month’s study of His Word. We’ve left a bit
of room to write down your thoughts as well!
WEEK 1: Try writing your own definition of prayer. What is it? What is it not?
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WEEK 2: What place should confession of sin have in the Christian life? How
should we go about it? (see January 9)
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WEEK 3: Like Jesus’ disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, we do not always
pray well. What are some simple steps that may help us to pray better? (see
January 20 and 21)
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WEEK 4: Do some have more of a calling to pray than others? What does a
ministry of prayer look like? Does everyone have a ministry of prayer? (see
January 24)
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Want more questions? Check out the Go Deeper section on our website or app!
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January 2023
People of Prayer
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.—1 John 5:14
Prayer seems like it should be easy. After all, what is prayer other than talking
with God? Yet most people I know feel that their prayer life needs improvement.
This month we will discover what the Bible has to say about the subject of
prayer. I invite you not just to read about prayer but also put into practice what
you learn. God is waiting to hear from you! In this month’s study, we will learn:
• How prayer differs from ordinary conversation
• What we can and should include in our prayers
• Why it is important to become people dedicated to prayer
Your devotional author,
John Koessler
John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody
Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of
which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author,
John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale).
Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green
Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town
in Michigan.
VOLUME 36 • ISSUE 1
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TODAYINTHEWORD.ORG
Sunday, January 1
The Opposite of Prayer
Read Luke 18:9–14
God, have mercy on me,
a sinner.—Luke 18:13
What is prayer? The simplest answer
is that prayer is talking to God. But
it may also be helpful to reverse the
question. What is the opposite of
prayer? Jesus describes what prayer
should not look like in the parable
recorded in Luke 18:9–14. Prayer is not
self-congratulation. It is not a matter
of reciting your spiritual resume.
Instead, prayer means coming to God
as you are, recognizing your deep
need, and expressing it to Him.
To make this point, Jesus
contrasted the way two very different
people approached God: a Pharisee
and a tax collector. The Pharisee,
rather than expressing a personal
need or offering praise to God, used
prayer to brag about his spiritual
accomplishments (vv. 11–12).
By contrast, the tax collector
approached God from a distance
(v. 13). Perhaps he was reluctant to
draw any closer than the outermost
court of the temple. Instead of praising himself, the tax collector felt so
unworthy that he “would not even
look up to heaven.” He beat his breast,
a gesture that signified deep mourning
or shame (Luke 23:48). The Jews of
Jesus’ day considered tax collectors to
be Roman collaborators, people who
epitomized dishonesty and greed. But
as he considered each of their prayers,
Jesus said that only the tax collector
went home forgiven.
Jesus’ parable reminds us that the
God who knows every word we utter
before it is on our lips also knows the
state of our heart (Ps. 139:4). You do
not need to put on airs when you pray
to God. We must come as we are.
Like the old song says: “Just as I am,
without one plea / But that Thy blood
was shed for me / And that Thou bid’st
me come to thee/ O Lamb of God, I
come, I come.”
 The tax collector’s words are the
basis for what some call the Jesus
Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.” Spend
time alone with God today putting
this lesson into practice.
Pray with Us
Lord Jesus, we praise You for having mercy on sinners like us! With repentant
hearts we worship You, for You have invited us to abide in You. Through Your
blood we share Your blamelessness before God!
6
TODAY IN THE WORD
Monday, January 2
Prayer in a Broken World
Read Genesis 4:1–26
At that time people began to call
on the name of the Lord.—Genesis 4:26
When my children were small, I was
often amazed at their confidence
in me. While they were sure I could
fix any broken thing they put in my
hands, I knew that I couldn’t. God is
a different matter. If the world were
not broken, we would not need to
pray. Prayer is needed because we
will always face circumstances that go
beyond our ability. The good news is
that, unlike a human parent, God has
the power to fix it.
The first explicit mention of
prayer in the Bible does not come
until sin had made its first serious
inroads into human experience. In
Genesis 4, we read that Cain murdered
Abel and was sentenced to a life of
restless wandering. Cain’s descendant
Lamech became a polygamist (v. 19).
Lamech’s boast in verse 23 suggests he
had a violent nature. “Lamech’s short
poem demonstrates the progress and
magnification of sin among humans,”
Old Testament commentator Andrew
Steinmann observes.
Yet the news is not all bad. We
see God’s common grace at work as
Lamech’s son Jabal becomes the first
to live in tents and raise livestock,
and his brother Jubal is the first
to play stringed instruments and
pipes (vv. 20–21). Both were born of
Lamech’s wife, Adah. Lamech’s other
wife, Zillah, gave birth to Tubal-Cain,
“who forged all kinds of tools out of
bronze and iron” (v. 22).
However, the most important
cultural development came after Eve
gave birth to “another child in place
of Abel, since Cain killed him” (v. 25).
Seth became the father of Enosh, and
“at that time people began to call on
the name of the Lord” (v. 26).
 As sin and the damage resulting
from it spread, we see people divide
into two basic categories. One group
did not know God. The other called
upon God by name. If we divided
up the world today, to which group
would you belong?
Pray with Us
We call upon Your name, God—for provision, guidance, faith, and every good
thing. You who have known humankind exhaustively from the beginning still
love and care for us. For this we thank You!
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7
Tuesday, January 3
Prayer and Doubt
Read Genesis 15:1–20
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited
it to him as righteousness.—Genesis 15:6
You might think that doubt has
no place in prayer. After all, doubt
seems like the opposite of faith.
Hebrews 11:6 warns that “without
faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who earnestly
seek him.” In Genesis 15, Abram’s
response to God’s promise to be his
“shield” and his “very great reward”
seems to be grounded in doubt.
Abram’s answer is essentially a
complaint: “You have given me no
children” (v. 3).
Abram was 75 years old, and his
wife was 60 when God initially called
him to leave his family and his native
country and relocate “to the land I will
show you” where the Lord promised
to make him a “great nation” (Gen.
12:1–2). The only flaw in this plan was
that Abram and Sarai had remained
childless up to this point. By natural
standards, Sarai was now past the
years of childbearing, and Abram was
“as good as dead” where children
were concerned (Heb. 11:12).
Instead of being angry with
Abram for raising this objection, the
Lord reaffirmed His promise. God’s
word was enough. Abram believed
God’s promise, and He “credited it
to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6).
The Lord also reiterated His promise
to give Abram the land of Canaan as
a possession. He sealed this promise
with a solemn covenant ritual and a
prediction that Abram’s descendants
would be slaves “in a country not their
own” but would eventually “come out
with great possessions” (vv. 13–14).
This covenant ceremony emphasized
God’s role in bringing these promises
to fulfillment. It is not a contract
between two equal parties, but an
unconditional covenant made and
ratified by God (see also Gal. 3:17;
Heb. 6:13–14).
 Do you struggle with doubt? It
is okay to express those doubts to
God in prayer. But the best remedy is
to remind yourself of what God has
already said and done. God’s Word
is always true; He will never break
His promises.
Pray with Us
Thank You for giving us the Scriptures, a record of Your promises made and
fulfilled. You understand our weakness, giving us the testimony of Scripture as
reassurance that You are powerful and faithful to do what You have promised.
8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Wednesday, January 4
What Is Prayer?
Read Genesis 18:22–33
Will not the Judge of all
the earth do right?—Genesis 18:25
When asked to define prayer, 19thcentury preacher F. W. Robertson said
this: “It is to connect every thought
with the thought of God, to look
on everything as His work and His
appointment, to submit every thought,
wish, and resolve to Him to feel His
presence so that it shall restrain us
even in our wildest joy.”
But a much simpler definition
of prayer is simply to ask. In today’s
passage, Abraham asks God a series
of bold questions when he learns that
the Lord is about to destroy Sodom
and Gomorrah. Abraham’s concern
is reflected in his first question,
expressed in verse 23: “Will you sweep
away the righteous with the wicked?”
Abraham had a specific reason to be
concerned. His nephew Lot lived in
Sodom with his family. Although the
patriarch does not mention Lot by
name, it seems likely that Abraham
was afraid they would be swept up
in the city’s destruction. Abraham
asked a second question in verse 25:
“Will not the Judge of all the earth do
right?” Speaking freely, Abraham knew
God would do the right thing.
To us, this exchange may sound
like bargaining, but they did not
haggle. There was no back and forth
in Abraham’s negotiations. The Lord
yielded at every threshold until
the limit reached a number that
Abraham believed was a sure thing.
God promised not to destroy the
city if ten righteous people could
be found in it (v. 32). Unfortunately,
even this number was not low
enough! Here God demonstrated
His grace not only in patiently
hearing Abraham’s petitions but
also by eventually granting the one
thing the patriarch did not explicitly
request. God spared Lot’s life.
 What is prayer? As we continue
this month’s study, we will see that
it has many dimensions. But at its
most basic level, prayer is asking God
something with confidence that He
will do what is right. What do you
need from God today? Boldly ask
and then trust His answer.
Pray with Us
Lord, right and wrong are simple concepts. But our ability to discern them is
complicated by human limitations, mixed motives, and sinful inclinations. Teach
us to trust You to do right, even when Your ways defy our comprehension.
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9
Thursday, January 5
Waiting on God
Read Exodus 2:11–25
The Lord will watch over your coming
and going both now and forevermore.—Psalm 121:8
Time has a way of slipping by without
our notice. Of course, the opposite
happens when we are waiting for
something, whether it be the coffee
pot to fill or our vacation to begin.
We become painfully aware of time
when we are wanting something
to happen. Especially when we are
waiting for God.
Sometimes we get frustrated by
waiting for God to act. We may begin
to wonder if God knows or cares about
our situation. That feeling was certainly
familiar to the Israelites. Today’s
passage describes the birth and early
life of Moses that took place during a
time the Lord had predicted to Abram,
when God’s people were “strangers in
a country not their own” (Gen. 15:13).
Although Abram’s descendants spent
400 years there, the “long period” to
which verse 23 refers in Exodus 2 is
probably a reference to Moses’ stay
in Midian. During those years the
Israelites “groaned in their slavery and
cried out.” These cries were probably
not prayers in our formal sense but
cries of anguish. Did God know their
situation? Did He care?
In the Hebrew text of verses
24–25, three verbs describe God’s
response. The text says He heard their
groaning, remembered His covenant
with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and
knew. Unlike the first two verbs,
there is no object given for the third.
It simply says, “God knew.” These
three actions of God occur during
the “long period” that stretched from
Moses’ birth until God called him at
the burning bush. We can be sure they
also describe what God was doing
during the 400 years of apparent
silence as God’s people waited for
Him to do what He had promised.
 Are you waiting for God to
answer your prayer? Waiting can be
long and hard. It may feel at times like
God is ignoring you. But what was
true for Israel is also true for you. God
has heard your cry. He remembers His
promises. God knows.
Pray with Us
Once again, help us trust You to know and do what is right. This is especially
difficult when we are waiting on You or when You are silent. Yet we cling to
faith in You and in Your holiness. You know our struggles.
10 TODAY IN THE WORD
Friday, January 6
Prayer and God’s Presence
Read Psalm 27:1–14
For in the day of trouble he will
keep me safe in his dwelling.—Psalm 27:5
Who do you run to when you are
afraid? David spent a significant
portion of his life on the run. As a
young man, he fled from King Saul
(1 Sam. 21:10). In later years, after his
son Absalom mounted a palace coup
against him (2 Sam. 15:14), he hid in
the wilderness. It is unclear when
David wrote Psalm 27, but it may well
have been early in his life. David’s
wilderness experience taught him
to see God as a stronghold (v. 1). A
stronghold was a place one went for
protection, perhaps a mountain cave
or a fortress.
It was during these wilderness
times that David developed a strong
personal relationship with God. David
considered the Lord not only his
defender but also his friend. In this
Psalm David longs for the presence
of the Lord. The experience of God’s
presence was so important that he
requests it in verse 4: “One thing I ask
from the Lord, this only do I seek.” His
own heart tells him to seek God’s face,
and he eagerly expresses his desire
to do this very thing (v. 8). David’s
friendship with God enabled him to
speak boldly about his fears, desires,
and hopes. But it is clear from the way
David alternates between speaking to
himself and addressing his audience
that he is not saying these things for
his benefit alone. What was true for
David can also be true of us.
When David speaks about seeking
God’s face, he is using metaphorical
language. David undoubtedly remembered that when Moses asked to see
God, he was warned that no one
could see God’s face and live (Ex.
33:20). What David longed for was
to be in God’s presence.
 Are you feeling anxious? Alone?
Scared? Through the Holy Spirit, you
can experience the reality of God’s
presence. When we pray, we sense
God’s presence in a tangible way.
Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit himself
testifies with our spirit that we are
God’s children.”
Pray with Us
“Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. . . .
Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path” (Ps. 27:7, 11). You are
the stronghold of our lives, as You were of David’s. Whom shall we fear?
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 11
Saturday, January 7
Prayer and Longing
Read Psalm 63:1–11
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you. —Psalm 63:1
If you’ve ever been away from home
for a long period of time, you have
probably experienced homesickness.
We find a similar type of longing
expressed in the Psalms. When we are
homesick for God we long for past
experiences of His presence. Or, we
long to be reunited with Him for all
eternity in our heavenly home.
In Psalm 63, a Psalm which David
wrote while in the desert of Judah,
he compares his longing for God to
the thirst one feels when “in a dry
and parched land where there is no
water” (v. 1). As David describes a kind
of nostalgia based on past spiritual
experience, he speaks of seeing God
“in the sanctuary” (v. 2). It is unlikely
that David is speaking of seeing God
in the literal sense but of the power
and glory represented by the services
which took place there.
These past experiences set the
pattern for David’s life of devotion. In
verses 3–4 he expresses his intent to
praise and glorify God with his lips.
David’s habit of thinking about God
“through the watches of the night”
serves as a reminder of his complete
dependence on God, causing David
to “cling” to Him (v. 8).
These descriptions give us a clue
to some of the spiritual disciplines
that informed David’s prayer life. He
mentions three in particular: public
worship at the sanctuary, worship
through song, and private meditation
on God’s character, especially during
the watches of the night. These
reminders not only instilled a sense
of longing for God, they also helped
him sense God’s presence when going
through great difficulty. Longing for
God is both a motivation to pray and
a result of those prayers.
 Difficulties do not have to drive
away our sense of God. David wrote
these words during a time of great
stress in his life (vv. 8–11). When
you seek God through prayer during
times of trial and difficulty, you may
sense His presence in an even more
powerful way.
Pray with Us
We crave the sense of Your presence and the intimacy of hearing Your response
when we cry out to You. Speak to us through Your Word and the words of Your
servants. Unfold Yourself to us so we will know You better through our distress.
12 TODAY IN THE WORD
Sunday, January 8
Prayer and Shame
Read Isaiah 64:1–12
Oh, look on us, we pray,
for we are all your people.—Isaiah 64:9
The story of the prodigal son is
arguably Jesus’ most famous parable.
After squandering his inheritance, the
younger son in the parable returns
home in shame and confesses, “Father,
I have sinned against heaven and
against you. I am no longer worthy
to be called your son” (Luke 15:21).
Although the prodigal felt unworthy
to be called a son, he was not too
ashamed to say “Father.”
In Isaiah 64, God’s people admit
that their prayers do not deserve to
be heard. Even so, they remember the
way God has delivered His people
in the past: “You come to the help
of those who gladly do right, who
remember your ways. But when we
continued to sin against them, you
were angry. How then can we be
saved?” Unrighteousness means more
than doing the wrong kinds of things.
It is not just one or many things we
do, it is a condition. The presence
of sin defiles even our best actions.
Consequently, verse 6 laments, “all our
righteous acts are like filthy rags; we
all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the
wind our sins sweep us away.”
If we are unrighteous, how can we
pray? Do we deserve to be heard by
a holy God? According to verses 8–9,
we should come to God as our Father:
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are
the clay, you are the potter; we are
all the work of your hand. Do not be
angry beyond measure, Lord; do not
remember our sins forever. Oh, look on
us, we pray, for we are all your people.”
Notice that this appeal is based on a
relationship, not performance. God
forgives because He loves us, not
because we’ve earned it.
 Do you worry about things you’ve
done? Do you wonder how God will
respond if you turn to Him? Jesus’
parable provides the answer: “But
while he was still a long way off, his
father saw him and was filled with
compassion for him” (Luke 15:20).
Pray with Us
These two things are true: that we are not worthy to approach You, and yet
You invite us to approach. Your grace emboldens us to call You “Father” and
to embrace Your mercy and forgiveness. Praise Your holy name!
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 13
Monday, January 9
Admitting Our Sin
Read Psalm 32:1–11
I will confess my transgressions
to the Lord.—Psalm 32:5
We can imagine that on that long
walk home, his stomach aching with
hunger, the prodigal son wrestled
with what he would say to his father.
This is usually true of anyone who
confesses wrongdoing. Whether we
are admitting guilt to a parent,
spouse, or even God, we plan our
words in advance.
Psalm 32 shows us how to talk
to God when we have sinned. The
Psalmist begins by contrasting the
benefits of forgiveness with the
experience of guilt (vv. 1–4). Then in
verse 5 he gives a basic definition of
what is involved in confession. When
we confess our sin, we acknowledge
our sin to God. Commentator Ellen
T. Cherry calls this the “center” of the
Psalm. The root of the word translated
as “acknowledge” means “to know.”
We are often unwilling to admit our
sin to God because we refuse to admit
it to ourselves.
It is a mistake to act as if we
have nothing to confess. On the
other hand, verse 6 says that all the
“faithful ones” (literally, “all the godly”)
will acknowledge their sin just as
David did. Psalm 51:17 describes our
“broken spirit” as our sacrifice to God.
“A broken and contrite heart you,
God, will not despise.”
The psalm describes not only
confession, but offers hope. Those
who try to cover up sin will find
only guilt and unhappiness. Those
who openly admit their sin will find
forgiveness and relief. Refusing to
face your sin only leads to trouble.
Acknowledging your sin in God’s
presence opens the door to joy and
righteousness (v. 11).
 Do you need to admit your sin to
God? Be specific as you confess it to
Him. God will not turn away anyone
who seeks forgiveness through Christ.
As 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness.”
Pray with Us
Loving Father, we specifically confess our sins to You. Relieve this weight of
shame. You already know what is in our hearts, but our repentance is the
process by which You forgive us and restore our joy.
14 TODAY IN THE WORD
Tuesday, January 10
When You Are Unsure
Read 2 Samuel 12:1–24
But when you ask, you must
believe and not doubt.—James 1:6
“I have a question, but before I ask
it, I want you to say ‘yes.’” Nearly
every parent has heard such a request
from their child. The only reasonable
response is to admit that we can’t
guarantee what our answer will be
until we have first heard the request.
Some of the hardest requests we
make in prayer are those when we
are unsure of what the answer should
be. This is especially true when we
already desire a specific answer. David
made such a request after his first
child by Bathsheba was born. When
he confessed his sin, the prophet
informed David, “The Lord has taken
away your sin. You are not going to
die. But because by doing this you
have shown utter contempt for the
Lord, the son born to you will die”
(2 Sam. 12:13–14).
David spent the next seven days
pleading with God for the child.
During that period, the elders of
David’s court gathered around him in
concern and attempted to persuade
him to eat. But after the child died,
David dressed himself, went into
the Lord’s house to worship, then
returned home and asked for food.
We can hear the turmoil of David’s
thoughts in verses 22 and 23, “While
the child was still alive, I fasted and
wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The
Lord may be gracious to me and let
the child live.’ But now that he is dead,
why should I go on fasting? Can I
bring him back again? I will go to him,
but he will not return to me.” David’s
behavior shows his doubts, but also
his trust in God’s answer.
 We can make bold requests even
when we are unsure how God will
answer. You may not always be sure
how (or when) God will answer your
prayers, but you can always be certain
of His goodness. God always knows
what is best for you.
Pray with Us
Sometimes we hesitate to make requests because we fear You will say no. Give
us faith to ask for what is on our hearts. Grant us confidence in Your goodness,
even when Your answer isn’t what we want to hear.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 15
Wednesday, January 11
When You Are Angry
Read Jonah 4:1–10
Before a word is on my tongue you,
Lord, know it completely.—Psalm 139:4
Picture the scene for a moment.
The Old Testament prophet Jonah is
hunkered down on the outskirts of
Nineveh, pouting because God did
not do what he wanted. The scene
may seem laughable to us. But if
we’re honest, we will admit there
are times when we too get irritated
with God.
Jonah was so angry that he asked
God to “take away” his life (v. 3).
Jonah had no right to be angry at the
Lord for His compassion toward the
Ninevites (3:10). Yet Jonah did not
hesitate to express his frustration.
What should we do when we feel
angry with God? Tell Him! God
already knows what you are feeling.
God perceives our thoughts “from
afar,” and before a word is on our
tongue, He knows it “completely”
(Psalm 139:2, 4). He is big enough to
absorb any anger we may feel.
However, analyzing Jonah’s anger
toward God may help us moderate
our own. Although Jonah felt his anger
was justified, he is clearly mistaken.
First, he has overstepped his bounds.
God is the only One who is in control.
Jonah could not even make the plant
that gave him shade grow (v. 10).
Why would he think that he should
control the fate of other nations?
Second, Jonah was thinking mainly of
himself. Jonah seems to take God’s
grace for granted just as he did the
shade from the plant that God caused
to grow up over his head (vv. 2–3).
Third, Jonah’s anger failed to consider
the larger scope of God’s interest.
God is interested in us. But He is also
interested in those around us. God
cares about us, but He also cares
about the rest of creation (v. 11).
 You should not be afraid to
express your anger to God. But do not
think that you can pressure God into
doing what you want. God hears our
prayers and responds to them. But He
is not at our beck and call.
Pray with Us
You are justified to rebuke our anger, yet so often You respond to our doubts,
fears, and anger with grace. When our outlooks and desires are twisted by sin,
be gracious to correct us and remind us what is true.
16 TODAY IN THE WORD
Thursday, January 12
Persistent Praying
Read Luke 18:1–18
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them
that they should always pray and not give up.—Luke 18:1
Not long after I trusted in Christ in
my late teens, I decided I needed
to spend more time in prayer. I
decided that I should pray for at
least an hour a day. I knelt by my
bedside, prayed for myself and then
friends and family. When it seemed
like an hour had passed, I glanced
at the clock. It had only been a
few minutes!
Being persistent in prayer is not
a matter of recording the minutes
or hours. It is the pattern of praying
for the same thing repeatedly over
a long period. In today’s parable,
Jesus compares it to a widow who
repeatedly comes to a judge with
her plea. In verse 2, Jesus describes
the judge as someone “who neither
feared God nor cared what people
thought.” With this picture, Jesus
accurately captures the imbalance
of power we often feel in prayer.
The answer lies in God’s hands, and
we do not always feel that He takes
notice of us.
Jesus’ point is not that God is
like that disinterested judge, who
only takes note of the woman’s case
so that she will quit bothering him.
God is deeply interested in those
who approach Him in prayer. Jesus is
showing that God will not ignore our
requests. God will not be slow in His
response. God will not refuse to deal
justly with those who come to Him
for help.
Yet the story also shows our
perspective. We may sometimes feel
as if God is both slow and unfeeling
toward us when we pray. We may
begin to doubt Him. Remember that
our definition of what is “quick” may
not be the same as Jesus’ definition.
However, God’s answers to our
prayers are always right on time.
 Have you been waiting for God
to answer a particular prayer? Do not
be afraid to pray it again and again.
God welcomes the prayers of His
chosen ones, “who cry out to him
day and night” (v. 7).
Pray with Us
Lord, we quickly tire of bringing the same petitions to You day after day.
Discouragement, a sense of futility, or even boredom can tempt us to give up.
Please help us persevere and reassure us that You are listening.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 17
Friday, January 13
How to Pray
Read Matthew 6:1–8
Your Father knows what you need
before you ask him.—Matthew 6:8
As a child, many of us were taught to
kneel beside our bed to pray. But we
can also pray while standing, walking,
running, or even lying down. It is not
the position we are in when we pray
that matters; what is most important
is the attitude of the heart.
In today’s passage, Jesus describes
the proper heart posture, not just
for prayer but for all our righteous
acts. Jesus warns, “Be careful not to
practice your righteousness in front
of others to be seen by them. If you
do, you will have no reward from
your Father in heaven” (Matt. 6:1).
The fault Jesus highlights is one of
motivation. The problem is not that
people see us but that we do these
things “to be seen by them.” Instead
of being an act of worship or a form
of communication, this kind of prayer
turns into a public performance.
As a negative example, Jesus
pointed to the practice of those who
stood in prominent places such as
street corners or the synagogues. This
is a reference to the practice of some
of the Pharisees, whom commentator
Rodney Reeves calls “the fashion
models of righteousness.” As a
second negative example, Jesus
mentioned the pagans “who keep
on babbling” in the hope that they
could bowl God over with their long
prayers (v. 7).
The solution Jesus offers is to
avoid putting our righteous practice
on display. Instead of seeking the
spotlight, Jesus urged His listeners
to “go into your room, close the
door and pray to your Father, who is
unseen” (v. 6). Rather than attempting
to manipulate God with your words,
open your heart and simply ask God
for what you need.
 Your prayer does not have to be
a work of art or a formal speech. It
does not even need to be very long.
You are not putting on a performance
for God’s benefit or for anyone else.
When you pray, simply say what is on
your heart, and God will hear.
Pray with Us
Teach us how to pray about our specific needs. Teach us the correct posture
for approaching You with our fears, thanks, and confessions. You are gracious,
attentive, just, and loving.
18 TODAY IN THE WORD
Saturday, January 14
Prayer and Praise
Read Matthew 6:9–10
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.—Matthew 6:9
If your church offered a free class in
prayer taught by Jesus Himself, would
you enroll? What if I told you there
was already such a class? It is found
in Matthew 6 where Jesus teaches His
disciples a model prayer often called
“The Lord’s Prayer.”
In Matthew 6:5, Jesus has just
described hypocrites who pray to
be seen by others, thinking mostly
about themselves. Here, He urged
His disciples to begin their prayer by
focusing on God. We should approach
God as our loving heavenly Father
(v. 9). When we address God in this
way, we remind ourselves that prayer
is a relational act. It is a conversation
rather than a transaction. When we
speak to Him as our Father in heaven,
we are not stressing distance but
power. Heaven is the domain of
God where His will is done (v. 10).
When Jesus calls God our
Father in heaven. God is exalted
above all. Scripture often refers to
God as the one who “looks down”
from heaven to judge and to act
(Ps. 14:2; 33:13; 53:2). Recognizing
God’s stature shapes our prayers.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 cautions us not to
make rash promises to this exalted
God: “Do not be quick with your
mouth, do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God. God
is in heaven and you are on earth, so
let your words be few.” At the same
time, Jesus urges us to address God
as our heavenly Father; because of
this relationship, we can draw near
with confidence.
We are to begin praying with
a focus on God. According to Jesus,
our first concern should be to praise
and honor God.
 Do you have the assurance
that comes by knowing God as
your heavenly Father? The only way
you can know God as your Father
is through faith in Jesus Christ.
According to John 1:12, to all who
have believed in Him, “he gave the
right to become children of God.”
Pray with Us
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9–10). May Your will come into our
hearts, changing our motives and desires to mirror Yours.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 19
Q&A
Questions & Answers
by Dr. Sanjay Merchant, Professor of Theology
Q
I’ve heard Jesus Christ described
as “fully man and fully God.”
What exactly does that mean?
A
The statement that Jesus is “fully
man and fully God” arose in
the early church. It was based on the
comprehensive reading of Scripture
regarding Jesus’ natures and person.
We know that Mary’s firstborn son
“grew and became strong, filled with
wisdom, and the grace of God was on
him” (Luke 2:40). Like other humans,
He hungered (Matt. 4:2), thirsted (John
19:28), tired (John 4:6), suffered (1
Peter 3:18), and died (Mark 15:37).
Jesus also clearly showed Himself
to be God. Paul writes, “For in Christ
all the fullness of the Deity lives in
bodily form” (Col. 2:8). According
to the consistent testimony of His
disciples, Jesus exercises God’s
wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30), power, and
authority (Heb. 1:3), despite sharing
in the frailties of the human existence.
The Council of Chalcedon (451
A.D.) defined Christ as having “two
natures: inconfusedly, unchangeably,
indivisibly, inseparably.” He is neither
“half man and half God,” like a
mythological demigod, nor two
symbiotically related persons: one
human and one divine. He who
eternally was “in very nature God”
20 TODAY IN THE WORD
(Phil. 2:6) “became flesh and made
his dwelling among us” (John 1:14),
bearing the “exact representation of
his being” (Heb. 1:3) as the “image,”
or precise physical representation,“
of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). Jesus
is divine without defect and human
without exception.
The fact that Jesus was both
fully man and fully God is directly
relevant to our salvation. As a man,
Jesus is able to identify with our
experiences. “Because he himself has
suffered when he was tempted, he
is able to help those who are being
tempted” (Heb. 2:18). Yet, because
He is fully God, we know that He has
overcome the world (John 16:33).
On the cross and through the tomb,
Jesus represents humanity to God
and God to humanity by taking the
place of sinful humans who owe an
insurmountable debt to our holy God.
He then rose as our Savior, conquering
sin and death.
We can declare with great
confidence that “there is one mediator
between God and mankind, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a
ransom for all people” (1 Tim. 2:5–6).
The fellowship between humanity and
God, which was lost in the Garden of
Eden, has been restored in Jesus Christ
who is fully man and fully God.
Q&A
“The Bible gives us another way to understand God’s nature
by identifying Jesus as ‘the radiance of God’s glory’ (Heb. 1:3).
We know the Father by the Son, just as we see the sun by the sunlight.”
Q
If Jesus is the “son of God,”
according to the Bible, how
can He also be God?
A
Jesus has two integrally related
natures. He shares the human
nature with us and the divine nature
with His Father in heaven. But, while
there are many humans, there is
only one God. (In fact, there cannot
be multiple deities, since God is
maximally great.)
It is impossible to fully compare
human and divine natures. For
example, Peter, James, and John, who
share the human nature, are separate
human beings. However, the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit, who share the
divine nature, are not separate divine
beings. The Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are neither a trio of gods nor
equal “parts” of God. They are one.
It would also be wrong to
understand that the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit are multiple personalities
of a single divine person. Consider
Jesus’s prayer to the Father in John
17:1–4, “Father, the hour has come;
glorify your Son that your Son may
glorify you. For you granted him
authority over all people that he might
give eternal life to all those whom you
have sent. Now this is eternal life: that
they know you, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
I have brought you glory on earth by
finishing the work you gave me to do.
And now, Father, glorify me in your
presence with the glory I had with you
before the world began.”
With His prayer, Jesus publicly
demonstrated His personal
relationship with the Father, while
acknowledging that He holds divine
authority and shares the glory of
God. Moreover, Jesus promised His
disciples that “I will ask the Father, and
he will give you another advocate to
help you and be with you forever—the
Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16–17). The
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not
the same divine person, but distinct
divine persons who possess the single
divine being.
The Bible gives us another helpful
way to understand God’s nature by
identifying Jesus as “the radiance of
God’s glory” (Heb. 1:3). We know the
Father by the Son, just as we see the
sun by the sunlight. Light and heat,
diminishing through space, transmit
the power of the sun, but the Son and
Holy Spirit convey the presence of
God without dilution. The Son and
Holy Spirit, who share in the fullness
of God’s glory as distinct divine
persons, reveal the eternal Father
to humanity.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 21
Sunday, January 15
Praying for Yourself
Read Matthew 6:11–14
Give us today
our daily bread.—Matthew 6:11
Do you ever feel guilty about praying
for yourself? Our prayer lists can get
so long they look like grocery lists!
But we shouldn’t feel bad about this.
When Jesus taught His disciples to
pray about their personal needs, He
began with some of the most basic
issues of life. He does not limit us to
praying for spiritual needs but begins
with a request for “daily bread.”
The emphasis on “daily” bread
may allude to the way God provided
food for Israel each day during their
forty-year trek through the wilderness.
But it also points to a major difference
between our experience and Jesus’
original audience. For many of them,
whether they would eat or not
was a daily question. Although our
circumstances are not as pressing,
we too depend upon God for our
daily needs.
When Jesus taught His disciples
to pray for spiritual needs, He
focused on the two most important
concerns. One was the need for
forgiveness (v. 12). The other was
the need for preservation from
temptation (v. 13). In verses 14–15
Jesus warns about the danger of
refusing to forgive others: “For if you
forgive other people when they sin
against you, your heavenly Father
will also forgive you. But if you do
not forgive others their sins, your
Father will not forgive your sins.”
The warning of verse 14 expands
the request for forgiveness in verse
12 to mean “forgive us our debts
to the same degree that we have
forgiven our debtors.” We don’t earn
forgiveness when we forgive others.
The experience of God’s grace
should prompt us to show grace to
others. Only those who know the
grace of God by experience can
forgive as Jesus describes.
 What is on your prayer list? Jesus
teaches us to boldly tell God about
our needs. It may be helpful to keep a
written record of your prayers so you
can celebrate the way God answers.
Pray with Us
Loving Father, “Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we
also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one” (Matt. 6:11–13). Thank You for cleansing us from sin!
22 TODAY IN THE WORD
Monday, January 16
The Potential of Prayer
Read Matthew 21:18–22
If you believe, you will receive
whatever you ask for in prayer.—Matthew 21:22
During some television commercials,
you will see text scroll across the
bottom of the screen in very tiny
letters. If you read the text, which is
often nearly impossible, you will find
that it contains a legal disclaimer.
Usually, it is a warning that the
promised result may not happen
for everyone.
Sometimes our teaching about
the promise Jesus makes regarding
prayer sounds similar. Because we
don’t want people to take it the
wrong way, we include so many
cautions and disclaimers that we
blunt the basic and most important
point. God answers prayer.
Consider the context of this
promise. Jesus made it after the
disciples marveled at the miraculous
withering of a fig tree by the road
(v. 19). Performing this type of
miracle seems out of character for
Jesus. However, rather than being
an act of spite, this was a symbolic
act much like those of the Old
Testament prophets. “Jesus, fresh
from his confrontation with the chief
priests and scribes, curses the fig
tree, declaring that no fruit would
ever come from it again,” theologian
Stanley Hauerwas explains. “The tree
withered, just as the scribes and chief
priests had withered the temple.”
Jesus’ disciples were so astonished
by the nature of the miracle that they
missed the symbolism. Jesus was
making a point about faith (v. 20).
Jesus assured them that the same
power was available to them if they
believed (v. 22). God’s answers to our
prayer are subject to His will and good
purpose for us (1 John 5:14). If God
refused Jesus’ request in the Garden
of Gethsemane, we should not be
surprised to find that He sometimes
says no to us (Luke 22:42).
 Prayer is not a blank check, and
God is not a vending machine. God
is not at our beck and call. Yet prayer
is far more powerful than we think.
It is the power of God that is the true
measure of prayer’s full potential.
Pray with Us
God, what You destroy cannot be restored; what You establish cannot be erased.
You restrain the forces of nature or make them do Your bidding. The hearts of
earthly authorities are Yours to direct. All power belongs to You.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 23
Tuesday, January 17
The Power of Prayer
Read Mark 9:14–29
Everything is possible
for one who believes.—Mark 9:23
We sometimes say “I’ll pray for you”
when we don’t know what else to
say. But praying for someone or in
the face of an impossible situation is
always the right thing to do. As Jesus
showed in Mark 9, prayer is powerful.
When the disciples asked Jesus
why they had been unable to cast
out the demon in today’s passage,
Jesus answered, “This kind can come
out only by prayer” (v. 29). His reply
raises a question of its own. What
method had the disciples used
instead?
The text does not say how the
disciples tried to help the boy, only
that they had failed in their attempt
(v. 18). Their failure caused the boy’s
father to question Jesus’ power (vv.
21–22). Between the two, it is not
immediately obvious whom Jesus
was talking about when He said, “You
unbelieving generation” and then,
“How long shall I stay with you? How
long shall I put up with you?” Was it
the boy’s father, the disciples, or the
crowd? Perhaps it was all of them.
Faith is compatible with action,
but action is not an adequate
substitute for faith. Whatever it was
that the disciples tried to do for the
boy, they did in their own strength and
failed miserably. Sometimes it is better
to act than to pray (see Ex. 14:15). But
in most cases, prayer should be our
first, not last resort. We can pray as we
act. Or, when we are unable to act,
we can pray that God will act with a
power we do not have. Prayer is the
Christian’s primary source of spiritual
power. Everything is possible to him
who believes, but some things are
only possible through prayer.
 Are you facing a problem that
seems impossible to solve? Do you
have trouble believing that God
can work in your situation? Pray
the father’s prayer: “Lord Jesus, I
do believe; help me overcome my
unbelief!” (v. 24).
Pray with Us
We have tried and failed. We have faltered in our faith. We have asked and
been denied. So much of life—and Your will—is beyond our understanding.
We believe, Father, but help our unbelief.
24 TODAY IN THE WORD
Wednesday, January 18
Christ’s Prayer for Us: Part 1
Read John 17:1–12
After Jesus said this, he looked toward
heaven and prayed.—John 17:1
After I became a follower of Jesus in
my late teens, I wondered if someone
had been praying for me to come to
faith. Following Christ was not the
obvious choice. Our family did not
attend church. I thought about the
people I knew and couldn’t think of
anyone. But today’s passage reveals
that at least one person prayed for
me. It was Jesus Christ.
Jesus prayed on the night of
His arrest. Matthew, Mark, and Luke
describe how Jesus asked to be
spared the cup of suffering if possible
(Matt. 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42;
Luke 22:39–46). John’s Gospel does
not mention these things, perhaps
because he was already aware they
were written. Instead, John describes
other elements of Jesus’ prayer. He
reveals that Jesus not only prayed for
Himself but also for those who would
believe in Him.
When Jesus prayed for Himself,
He asked the Father to glorify Him.
This was not an egotistical request
since the aim was to make the Father
known (vv. 1–3). To know Christ is to
know the Father. Those who know the
Father through Jesus Christ possess
eternal life. By glorifying Christ, the
Father was restoring Him to the
position He had “before the world
began” (v. 5).
In His prayer Jesus describes His
followers as “those whom you gave
me out of the world” (v. 6). Believers,
as Jesus defines them, are those who
accept Christ’s words and believe that
He has come from the Father (v. 8).
Jesus is glorified through their faith (v.
10). As He anticipated His departure
from this world, Jesus prayed for the
protection of those who were His. He
did not ask God to rescue them out of
the world but to preserve them in the
midst of it (vv. 13–16).
 Jesus prayed for you! Let the
message of this prayer sink deeply into
your heart. Consider for whom you
can pray today. Whom do you know
who needs to come to the Savior?
Pray with Us
Lord Jesus, Your prayer for us reveals Your love and care for us and our wellbeing. Please, bring Your Word in power to our unbelieving loved ones so they
too can be saved and transformed by knowing You.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 25
Thursday, January 19
Christ’s Prayer for Us: Part 2
Read John 17:13–26
Sanctify them by the truth;
your word is truth.—John 17:17
Our prayers reveal the matters that
are closest to our hearts. Jesus’ prayer
shows His concern for His disciples.
Jesus prayed for the disciples He was
about to leave behind. He also prayed
for those who would believe through
their message (v. 20). This means that
Jesus prayed for us!
What did He pray about? First,
He prayed for our protection and
sanctification. He knew that believers
would live in a world marked by sin.
He asked God to protect us “from the
evil one” (v. 16). He asked that we be
sanctified, growing into His likeness,
through spending time in His Word
(v. 17). God’s Word is truth!
Second, Jesus prayed for unity,
“that all of them may be one, Father,
just as you are in me and I am in
you” (v. 21). We often read these
words as a wish, as if Jesus were
saying, “I hope they will be one.” This
human-centered reading places all
the responsibility for unity on us. But
Jesus made this request to His Father.
It is God who makes believers one
through Jesus Christ. The unity Christ
describes is reflected in the nature
of the church which is made up of
many members who are united to
one another by the Holy Spirit.
The church is already one
through its union with Jesus Christ.
What we are responsible for is the
expression of that unity. We can
be joined together in conflict and
selfishness, or we can “Make every
effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace” (Eph.
4:3). In addition, Jesus also prayed
for our heavenly future expressing
a desire that “those you have given
me” would “be with me where I am,
and to see my glory” (v. 24).
 You are precious to God! Reread
this prayer aloud. Jesus prayed this just
before He was arrested, knowing the
tremendous suffering to come and the
incredible sacrifice to be made. His
thoughts were on you. How great is
His love!
Pray with Us
You thought of us in Your last hour. Even in the face of betrayal, rejection,
abandonment, and death, You prayed for us; You prayed for me. Now we see
Your glory and we worship You, praise You, love You, adore You!
26 TODAY IN THE WORD
Friday, January 20
Why We Pray Poorly
Read Luke 22:39–46
Pray that you will not fall
into temptation.—Luke 22:40
A preacher once lamented, “My
preaching is better than my praying,
and my praying is better than my life.”
What he meant was that our prayers
often reflect our aspirations more than
they do our practice. But sometimes,
our praying falls short as well. Why do
we pray poorly?
We aren’t alone. In Luke 22, we
see Jesus with His disciples. After
leaving the upper room, they went
out to the Mount of Olives. Jesus
withdrew about a stone’s throw away
and gave them one job, “Pray that you
will not fall into temptation” (vv. 40–
41). According to Matthew’s version,
Jesus said, “My soul is overwhelmed
with sorrow to the point of death.
Stay here and keep watch with me”
(Matt. 26:38). But instead of praying,
the disciples slept! They weren’t being
lazy or insensitive. Luke offers a more
natural explanation in verse 45 when
he says the disciples were “exhausted
from sorrow.”
There are many reasons we pray
poorly. We may be tired, stressed, or
even ill. Sometimes we are distracted
by the very problems that we bring to
the Lord. Talking about our concerns
causes us to think about them,
and before we know it, we are just
worrying aloud. When Jesus found
the disciples sleeping, he woke them
and urged them to get up and pray “so
that you will not fall into temptation”
(v. 45).
Some of the things that cause us
to pray poorly are under our control.
Others are not. But we do not need
to pray well to be heard. It is better to
pray poorly than not at all.
 There are some simple ways to
pray better. First, pray when you are
most alert. Second, find a quiet place
without distraction. Third, pray using a
posture that is more likely to keep you
from falling asleep. Some people keep
a prayer list or write out their prayers.
No matter how you do it: just pray.
Pray with Us
Help us when we feel too overwhelmed to pray. Give us simple words to utter.
Show us how to bring our pain, fear, shame, or hopelessness to You. Give us
strength to pursue You in all circumstances and conditions.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 27
Saturday, January 21
A Praying Church
Read Acts 1:1–14
They all joined together
constantly in prayer.—Acts 1:14
As a young Christian, I took Jesus’
admonition in Matthew 6:6 to pray
in secret literally. But the translation
of the Bible I read at the time was
the King James Version, which said,
“enter into thy closet and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret.” I took that literally
so I went into my bedroom, climbed
into my messy closet, and prayed in
the dark!
However, Jesus’ teaching did
not forbid public prayer. The plural
wording of the Lord’s Prayer (“our
Father,” “our daily bread,” “our debts”)
implies corporate prayer (Matt. 6:9, 11,
12). After His resurrection, Jesus told
the disciples not to leave Jerusalem
but to wait for the promised Holy
Spirit (v. 4). Verse 14 tells us how Jesus’
followers occupied themselves during
this waiting period when it says that
they “all joined together constantly
in prayer.”
Although we do not have a record
of what they prayed for, Luke provides
two important details. Believers
not only prayed in private but also
prayed publicly together. The fact that
they “joined together” shows that
this was corporate prayer. Luke also
implies that the disciples did this over
a prolonged period when he says
they prayed “constantly.” Perhaps the
disciples attended regularly scheduled
prayer services at the temple during
this waiting period. But they also met
for prayer in the upstairs room of the
home where they were staying (v.
13). There were no church buildings
to meet in at that time. Corporate
prayer builds church unity and helps
its members get to know one another.
It is also a good way to teach new
believers how to pray. If you feel
nervous about praying in public, you
might begin by listening and agreeing
silently as others pray aloud.
 Corporate prayer does not have
to take place in a church. You can pray
with your family at mealtimes or invite
friends to your house. Have someone
begin and close the time with an
“Amen” or Scripture verse.
Pray with Us
Lord, the difficulty with corporate prayer is that we often get distracted,
wondering how our prayers sound to others. Help us focus on You, even
when others are listening.
28 TODAY IN THE WORD
Sunday, January 22
Accessories to Prayer
Read Acts 2:42–47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching
and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.—Acts 2:42
In fashion, an accessory is a nonessential item of clothing or jewelry. It
might be a belt or a handbag. But an
accessory can also be something that
adds value or extends the function of
something. For example, a printer and
a camera are accessories that extend
the capability of your computer.
Prayer was foundational to the
spiritual life of the early church, but it
did not stand alone. Today’s passage
provides us with a snapshot of the
spiritual life of the early church. It
identifies the three foundational
habits that supported the church’s
prayer life. Luke says that the first
Christians “devoted themselves”
to these things (v. 42). This is the
language of habitual practice. In first
place was the habit of sitting under
the apostle’s teaching. There is more
implied in this phrase than merely
listening to someone talk about
the Bible. It implies a body of truth
handed down to the church by those
who were Christ’s representatives.
Second on Luke’s list was
something he calls “fellowship.”
We often use this term to refer to
socializing. For us, fellowship time
at church may mean little more than
small talk and donuts. But it was
something more substantial for the
early church. The Greek word means
“sharing.” It could generally refer to
the bond between believers or the
sharing of material goods (v. 44).
The church also observed “the
breaking of bread.” Although this
phrase can simply mean that they
ate meals together, it seems more
likely that it refers to a particular
kind of meal. The early believers
probably observed the Lord’s Supper
every time they met. This memorial
meal celebrates Christ’s death and
resurrection (1 Cor. 11:23–26). Luke
may indicate that the early Christians
observed it every time they met (v. 46).
 Does the church life described
in Acts 2:42–47 match your own
church experience? In what ways do
the practices of your congregation
differ from or compare to those of the
early church? What can we learn from
these believers?
Pray with Us
Lord, we pray for people who feel isolated and unseen in their congregations.
Give us discernment to recognize them, generosity to welcome them, and love
to invest in them week after week.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 29
Monday, January 23
Praying in Distress
Read Acts 4:23–31
When they heard this, they raised their
voices together in prayer to God.—Acts 4:24
A foxhole prayer is one prayed in
distress. The name comes from the
holes that soldiers dug for protection
during World War II. A foxhole prayer
has two characteristics. First this type
of prayer involves a bargain: “God, if
you get me out of this, I promise I will
. . .” Second, promises made in these
prayers are often quickly forgotten.
In today’s passage we see the
early church praying during a time of
deep distress . . . but they were not
praying a foxhole prayer. Peter and
John had been ordered not to teach in
the name of Jesus. Despite that threat,
they began their prayer by focusing on
God’s authority and power. The term
they used to address the Lord in verse
24 emphasized that God is the owner
or possessor of all things. Everything is
under His control.
The quotation from Psalm 2:1–2 in
verses 25–26 shows that they viewed
their circumstances through the lens
of God’s unfolding plan. What they
were facing was not unforeseen by
God. Not only was this true in their
case, but also in the suffering of Jesus
Christ. When Pontius Pilate and Herod
conspired against Jesus, they did what
the Lord “had decided beforehand
should happen” (v. 28). Everything was
unfolding according to God’s plan.
The believers made two specific
requests. First, they asked God to
take note of their situation and
enable them to speak the word boldly
despite these threats (v. 29). Second,
they asked God to thwart the religious
leaders’ effort to suppress the name
of Jesus. Instead of allowing them to
silence the mention of His name, they
asked the Lord to “perform signs and
wonders through the name of your
holy servant Jesus” (v. 30).
 Are you facing a time of deep
distress? The Lord takes note of
your circumstances and despite
the problem, He will accomplish
His purpose in your life. Take your
troubles to the Lord and ask Him to
strengthen you and work through you.
Pray with Us
Father, please take note of the threats and temptations we face today. Through
perils of both hardship and ease, give us what we need to obey You and bring
glory to Your name.
30 TODAY IN THE WORD
Tuesday, January 24
Prayer as Ministry
Read Acts 6:1–7
We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give
our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.—Acts 6:3–4
Prayer is the common task of
ordinary Christians. Maybe you’ve
heard someone say at a missionary
conference, “Some can go, many can
give, all can pray.” Yet there are some
in the church who are set apart for a
ministry of prayer. According to Acts
6:3–4, prayer and preaching the Word
were the two fundamental duties of
church leadership.
As the early church grew in
numbers, its cultural makeup became
more diverse and its administrative
responsibilities more complex. When
the needs of some widows were
overlooked, the church brought the
matter to the apostles. However,
the apostles declined to take on
the responsibility. They directed the
congregation to choose seven people
known to be full of the Spirit and
wisdom to address the concern (v. 3).
This was not because the apostles
felt the ministry was unimportant. The
decision was a matter of ordering their
priorities. To take on this important
ministry would not allow them to
give their attention to prayer and
the Word. Any person can pray. All
Christians should pray. But some
believers are called by God to engage
in prayer to an even greater degree.
Pastors and church leaders have a
responsibility to pray for the flock they
serve. Some Christians have a special
passion that enables them to devote
themselves to prayer more than
others. Some are in a life situation that
enables them to spend much of their
time praying for others. Others have
taken prayer as a spiritual vocation.
The seven who were chosen
did more than oversee the church’s
ministry to its widows. Stephen was
also a dynamic teacher. Similarly, those
who have been called to a prayer
ministry often do more than pray. The
apostles prayed and taught the Word.
 How can you know if God has
called you to a special ministry of
prayer? The only way is to begin
praying. If you would rather pray than
do anything else, you may be called to
such a ministry.
Pray with Us
First, we thank You for gifting some with a passionate focus on prayer. Second,
we ask You to fill them with the Holy Spirit and to bless their prayers. Third, we
ask You to call more to this spiritual vocation.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 31
Wednesday, January 25
Praying with the Spirit
Read Romans 8:18–30
The Spirit himself intercedes for us
through wordless groans.—Romans 8:26
When I face a challenge or have a
large task to accomplish, I always
know that my wife, Jane, will be
praying for me. If I feel I need more
prayer, I have friends that I can ask.
But I always have someone else
praying for me, whose voice I have
never heard: the Holy Spirit.
Paul mentions this mysterious
ministry of prayer in the context of
a larger discussion about the Spirit’s
work in our lives. All those who have
the Holy Spirit living in them “are
not in the realm of the flesh but are
in the realm of the Spirit” (v. 9). The
apostle makes it clear in this same
verse that everyone who belongs to
Christ also has the Holy Spirit. The
Spirit’s presence obligates us to live
“according to the Spirit” (v. 12). We do
this by living in the power of the Spirit.
God’s Spirit enables us to resist the
impulses of the sinful nature (v. 13).
This does not mean that those
who possess the Spirit never struggle.
In verse 18 Paul acknowledges that
Christians suffer. The struggle may be
so intense that even we who “have the
firstfruits of the Spirit” often “groan
inwardly as we wait eagerly for our
adoption to sonship, the redemption
of our bodies” (v. 23). The Holy Spirit
groans along with us but His groans
are prayers. The Spirit “intercedes for
us” (v. 26), and “he who searches our
hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for God’s
people in accordance with the will
of God” (v. 27).
No wonder Paul can say that “in
all things God works for the good of
those who love him” (v. 28). What the
Holy Spirit prays always agrees with
God’s will. His requests for us are
never refused.
 While you may sometimes be
at a loss for words, the Holy Spirit
never is. “The Spirit helps us in our
weakness” (v. 26). He knows just how
to pray for you.
Pray with Us
God, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for helping us in our
weakness. Thank You for praying for us! Knowing that the Spirit Himself is
praying on our behalf gives us comfort and hope.
32 TODAY IN THE WORD
Thursday, January 26
Praying for Others
Read Ephesians 1:15–23
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers.—Ephesians 1:16
Have you ever had a friend ask how
they can pray for you? Sometimes this
question is hard to answer because
there are so many things, we cannot
list them all. At other times we can’t
think of any pressing need. It can be
even harder when we are praying for
someone else.
In Ephesians 1:15–23 Paul
provides us with a template we can
use when praying for others. Paul
begins by giving thanks to God for
the Ephesians (v. 15). When praying for others, we should not pray
mechanically; we should give some
thought to their life and circumstances beforehand.
Next, Paul asks God to increase
their understanding. The Holy Spirit
had already sealed the Ephesians
(v. 13). But Paul prayed that the
Holy Spirit would continue to give
them wisdom and understanding
so they would know Christ better.
We can pray for the salvation of
others. We can also pray that those
who have already trusted in Christ
would know Christ better. This
involves more than knowing the
truths of the Christian faith. The
kind of understanding Paul prayed
for affects the heart and produces
hope. What is the nature of this
hope? It is that those who belong
to Christ are regarded as God’s
inheritance (v. 18).
The Christian’s hope is the
expectation that we will experience
the power of God. This “incomparably
great power for us who believe” is
the same that “raised Christ from
the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly realm” (vv.
19–20). We know Christ both by faith
and by experience. Pray that they
will experience Christ’s resurrection
power as they face today’s challenges.
Ask God to show how Jesus is “head
over everything for the church” and
we are “the fullness of him who fills
everything in every way” (vv. 22–23).
 Why not use Paul’s template to
write a prayer for someone you know?
You can also use it to pray for yourself!
Pray with Us
Father, thank You for our believing friends who encourage us to follow You.
Please bless them with the Spirit of wisdom and a growing relationship with
You. Reveal to them Your great power as they face today’s gifts and challenges.
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 33
Friday, January 27
Musical Prayers
Read Ephesians 5:1–20
Sing and make music from
your heart to the Lord.—Ephesians 5:19
Jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald observed,
“The only thing better than singing is
more singing.” We usually consider
singing a form of entertainment. But in
the Scriptures, singing is also a mode
or prayer. We often say our prayers,
but sometimes we sing them.
When Paul writes about singing
in Ephesians 5, it is in a context that
focuses on the Christian lifestyle.
Its essence is to “walk in the way of
love” (v. 2). Those who choose this
way break with their past. Some of
the features of this former life are
listed in verses 3–5: sexual immorality,
impurity, greed, obscene or foolish
talk, and coarse joking. Paul offers two
primary motivations for this change.
First, Christians are to lay aside the old
ways because they are incompatible
with the life of the kingdom. These
things are characteristic of those who
oppose God (vv. 6–7).
Second, those who are in Christ
have experienced a radical change.
They were “once darkness” but are
now “light in the Lord” (v. 8). Paul
does not call Christians to live up to
an external standard but to live out
the reality of who they are in Christ.
Singing is an essential part of this
lifestyle. Verses 19–20 describe singing
as a form of congregational self-talk.
When we sing, we are “speaking to
one another with psalms, hymns, and
songs from the Spirit” (v. 19).
Is there any difference between
these three? According to Jeremy
Begbie, the term psalm in verse
19 may refer to the Old Testament
Psalter, but it can also have a broader
meaning (1 Cor. 14:26). A hymn is
a song about God or about Christ.
Songs “from the Spirit” may have been
songs that “were directly generated by
the Spirit and thus more spontaneous
than psalms or hymns.”
 Music is part of the church’s
prayer vocabulary. Do you have
a favorite worship song or hymn?
Make that song a part of your prayer
time today.
Pray with Us
“I love You, Lord / And I lift my voice / To worship You / Oh, my soul rejoice! /
Take joy my King / In what You hear / Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear”
(Laurie Klein).
34 TODAY IN THE WORD
Saturday, January 28
Saying Grace
Read 1 Timothy 4:1–10
For everything God created is good, and nothing is
to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.—1 Timothy 4:4–5
Do you pray before meals? For many
years it was customary for families
to pray before every meal. But in our
modern-day culture, where eating
together or without distraction has
become less popular, many have
forgotten that practice. Saying a
blessing before eating is actually a
practice found in Scripture.
In 1 Timothy 4, Paul is addressing
false teaching concerning dietary
restrictions done for doctrinal reasons.
Paul warns that “in later times some
will abandon the faith and follow
deceiving spirits and things taught
by demons” (v. 1). Two features of
this false teaching are listed in verse
3: forbidding people to marry and
abstention from certain foods. Paul
does not explain the reasoning behind
their prohibitions but instead points
out the error. These false teachers did
not allow things that “God created
to be received with thanksgiving by
those who believe and who know
the truth” (v. 3).
Paul urges us that “everything
God created is good” and introduces
the common practice of giving
thanks before meals (vv. 4–5). When
we give thanks for our meal, we
recognize God’s goodness and
generosity. Some call this practice
“saying grace” because we are
acknowledging that God is the
source of our food. It comes to
us as a gift of His grace.
The term grace is related to
Latin word gratia which means
thankfulness. The custom of saying
grace is reflected in Deuteronomy
8:10, which urges, “When you have
eaten and are satisfied, praise the
Lord your God for the good land he
has given you.”
 Even Jesus “blessed” the food at
meals by giving thanks (Matt. 15:36).
Today, before you eat, take time to
acknowledge your food as a gift of
God. Maybe this will begin or renew
a tradition in your family!
Pray with Us
Sometimes we’re so busy worrying about the future that we overlook what You
have already provided. With each meal we eat this week, remind us that You are
the source of all needs met. Thank You for giving us our daily bread!
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 35
Sunday, January 29
When You Cannot Pray
Read Hebrews 7:11–28
He is able to save completely those who come to God through him,
Because he always lives to intercede for them.—Hebrews 7:25
Eli, the high priest, watched a woman
praying intensely at the tabernacle in
Shiloh. Hannah’s lips were moving,
but Eli could hear no words. He
mistakenly concluded that she was
mumbling to herself in a drunken
stupor. “How long are you going to
stay drunk? Put away your wine” he
told her. “Not so, my lord,” Hannah
replied, “I am a woman who is
deeply troubled. I have not been
drinking wine or beer; I was
pouring out my soul to the Lord”
(1 Sam. 1:12–15).
How would you feel if this
happened to you? It’s bad enough
to be misunderstood. But to be so
misunderstood by someone who is
supposed to represent God seems
like more than we can bear. Eli
was an ordinary priest with many
shortcomings and failures. Jesus, on
the other hand, is an extraordinary
priest who surpasses all those who
belonged to the old order of the
law of Moses.
According to Hebrews 7:15, Jesus
became a priest “not on the basis of a
regulation as to his ancestry but on the
basis of the power of an indestructible
life.” He is not a Levitical priest but a
priest “in the order of Melchizedek,”
the mysterious figure who received
tithes from Abraham and gave a
blessing to Abraham (Gen. 14).
Nothing in Scripture is revealed
about Melchizedek’s origin, lineage, or
death. Like someone who is “without
beginning of days or end of life,” he
foreshadowed the ministry of Christ.
Jesus fulfilled all that the law of God
required and died as our atoning
sacrifice on the cross. He rose from the
dead and “always lives to intercede” for
us (v. 25). Earthly priests and ministers
may let you down, but Jesus never will.
 Let’s face it. There are times when
we simply cannot pray. We may be too
sad or anxious. Sometimes we are at a
loss for words. When we feel that we
cannot pray, we know that our high
priest, Jesus, always lives to pray for us.
Pray with Us
Lord Jesus, please pray for those who are too depressed to speak. Pray for those
who are too ashamed to seek Your face. Pray for those who are angry at You and
refuse to pray. Pray for those who don’t know how. Thank You, Lord!
36 TODAY IN THE WORD
Monday, January 30
Calling for Prayer
Read James 5:13–18
Is anyone among you in trouble?
Let them pray.—James 5:13
When you are sick, you call the doctor.
When your pipes spring a leak, you
call the plumber. If your lights don’t
work, you call the electrician. Who
do you call when you have spiritual
needs? In James 5:14 we are told to
call “the elders of the church.”
We can certainly pray by
ourselves when we are facing trouble.
This is what verse 13 tells us to do.
But sometimes our problems are so
great that we need the prayer support
of others. The specific example
James gives is that of illness. The fact
that the elders must be called may
indicate that the one who needs
prayer is too sick to go to them. Verse
15 shows that prayer can make a
difference in such circumstances. We
pray for the sick because God is able
to “raise them up.”
James also says that God
will forgive in response to prayer,
indicating that sickness is sometimes
a consequence of divine discipline.
But his conditional language makes it
clear that sickness is not always a sign
of divine judgment. In addition to
prayer, the elders are to anoint with
oil. This act symbolizes the role of the
Spirit in healing. It is God who saves
and raises up. The oil has no inherent
healing power. Indeed, James does
not even say what kind of oil should
be used, nor does he prescribe a
particular form of prayer except to
say that they should do so “in the
name of the Lord” (v. 14).
Humility is a prerequisite to
effective prayer. Those who pray in
the manner James prescribes should
confess their sins to each other and
pray for one another. Far from being
an empty ritual, prayer for others is
“powerful and effective” (v. 16).
 Like Elijah, the great prayer
warriors in the church’s history have
only been ordinary people who
believed in the power of prayer. This
same power is available to you today.
Pray with Us
“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty
and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is
the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chron. 29:11).
MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE 37
Tuesday, January 31
The God Who Hears
Read 1 John 5:13–17
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.—1 John 5:14
Our anxieties about prayer usually
spring from the same question. It is
not a question of what God can do. It
is a question of what God will do. The
fear that God will ignore us is at the
heart of most of our concerns about
prayer. We do not want to be ignored
or our desires to be dismissed. We are
afraid that in the end, despite what
Jesus told us, God will indeed prove to
be like the unjust judge of the parable
(Luke 18:1–9).
In contrast to this fear, John makes
two astonishing and related promises
in today’s passage. John says that God
hears us if we ask anything that agrees
with His will. If God hears us, our
request will be granted (v. 14). This
confidence motivates us to approach
God boldly in prayer. Yet we know
from experience that this cannot be a
guarantee that we will always get what
we want when we pray. “Prayer is not
a machine,” C. S. Lewis observed.
“It is not magic. It is not advice
offered to God.”
The key to whether or not God
grants our requests does not lie in
the form of words we use or even the
degree of confidence we have that He
can do what we ask. The determining
factor has to do with God’s own plan.
The fundamental aim of prayer is not
to get God to agree with us and follow
our agenda. Instead, the goal of prayer
is to subdue our hearts to the point
where we agree with God. It is the
spirit reflected in the words of Christ
when He prayed, “yet not my will, but
yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
 These words are easier to pray
than to mean them. We will only be
able to pray them genuinely when we
believe the promise of 1 John 5:14 that
God truly hears us. He knows what we
need. We can trust His answer.
Pray with Us
Father, do in the world and in our lives what You have purposed to do. Please
conform our values and desires to Your will, so that our prayers may be in tune
with what You desire. Nurture our trust in You and Your will.
38 TODAY IN THE WORD
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