Pray-orities Week 2
Pray-orities Week 2
Week of January 11, 2026
My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer
Watch the full sermon here.
Day 1: Clearing the Temple
Reading: Matthew 21:12-17
Devotional: When Jesus entered the temple and overturned the tables, He wasn't having an irrational outburst. He was making room for the overlooked—the women, the Gentiles, the broken, and the hurting. The religious leaders had turned a place of prayer into a marketplace, blocking access to those who needed God most. What tables have you allowed to clutter your connection with the Father? What distractions, priorities, or even good things have become obstacles between you and God? Jesus is passionate about removing anything that stands between a willing heart and the Father. Today, invite Him to overturn whatever is blocking your access to His presence. He loves you too much to let anything separate you from Him.
Day 2: The Priority of Prayer
Reading: Luke 5:15-16
Devotional: After ministering to thousands, healing the sick, and pouring out His energy, Jesus didn't rush to refuel with food or rest. His first response was solitude with the Father. If Jesus, the perfect image of God, made prayer His priority, how much more do we need it? Martin Luther said that being a Christian without prayer is like being alive without breathing. Prayer isn't just a religious duty; it's the lifeline of our faith. It's where a willing heart meets the Father. Examine your prayer life today. When do you set aside time to hear from God? What causes you to pray? Are your prayers effective? Make prayer as essential as your next breath. Schedule time today to simply be with God, no agenda required.
Day 3: Nothing Will Separate Us
Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16
Devotional: When Jesus died, the veil in the temple split from top to bottom. This wasn't just dramatic symbolism—it was a declaration that the separation between God and humanity was forever removed. You no longer need a mediator, a priest, or perfect righteousness to approach God. Come boldly to the throne of grace just as you are. There is nothing Jesus will not remove that stands between a willing heart and the Father. That job you didn't get? That relationship that ended? Maybe God was protecting you from something that would have separated you from Him. Trust that He sees what you cannot. His removals are acts of love. Today, approach God with confidence, bringing all your burdens, sins, and questions directly to Him.
Day 4: The Danger of Picking Up Tables Again
Reading: 2 Peter 2:20-22
Devotional: The sobering reality is that Matthew 21 records the second time Jesus cleansed the temple. After He cleared it once, people returned to their old patterns, setting up the tables again. We do the same thing. God delivers us from something, and we pick it back up. He cleanses us, and we return to what made us unclean. But here's the truth: transformation isn't about your willpower; it's about abiding in Him. Your job isn't to change yourself—it's to keep coming to Jesus. Keep praying when it feels ineffective. Keep reading Scripture when it seems confusing. Keep taking steps toward God. One day you'll look back and realize you've walked away from something without even knowing it, because who the Son sets free is free indeed.
Day 5: Making Room for Healing
Reading: Isaiah 56:6-8
Devotional: After Jesus cleared the temple, Matthew 21:14 says, "Now there was room for the blind and the crippled to get to Him." When the clutter was removed, the hurting could access the Healer. God's temple isn't just a building—it's you. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. What needs to be cleared out to make room for God's healing work in your life? Blessed are the poor in spirit—those who recognize their need—for theirs is the kingdom of God. God welcomes the broken, the lame, the overlooked, and the desperate. He's not looking for perfection; He's looking for willingness. Today, clear space in your life for God. Turn off distractions. Create margin. Make room for the blind and broken parts of yourself to encounter Jesus and receive His healing touch.
Week of January 11, 2026
My House Shall Be Called a House of Prayer
Watch the full sermon here.
Day 1: Clearing the Temple
Reading: Matthew 21:12-17
Devotional: When Jesus entered the temple and overturned the tables, He wasn't having an irrational outburst. He was making room for the overlooked—the women, the Gentiles, the broken, and the hurting. The religious leaders had turned a place of prayer into a marketplace, blocking access to those who needed God most. What tables have you allowed to clutter your connection with the Father? What distractions, priorities, or even good things have become obstacles between you and God? Jesus is passionate about removing anything that stands between a willing heart and the Father. Today, invite Him to overturn whatever is blocking your access to His presence. He loves you too much to let anything separate you from Him.
Day 2: The Priority of Prayer
Reading: Luke 5:15-16
Devotional: After ministering to thousands, healing the sick, and pouring out His energy, Jesus didn't rush to refuel with food or rest. His first response was solitude with the Father. If Jesus, the perfect image of God, made prayer His priority, how much more do we need it? Martin Luther said that being a Christian without prayer is like being alive without breathing. Prayer isn't just a religious duty; it's the lifeline of our faith. It's where a willing heart meets the Father. Examine your prayer life today. When do you set aside time to hear from God? What causes you to pray? Are your prayers effective? Make prayer as essential as your next breath. Schedule time today to simply be with God, no agenda required.
Day 3: Nothing Will Separate Us
Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16
Devotional: When Jesus died, the veil in the temple split from top to bottom. This wasn't just dramatic symbolism—it was a declaration that the separation between God and humanity was forever removed. You no longer need a mediator, a priest, or perfect righteousness to approach God. Come boldly to the throne of grace just as you are. There is nothing Jesus will not remove that stands between a willing heart and the Father. That job you didn't get? That relationship that ended? Maybe God was protecting you from something that would have separated you from Him. Trust that He sees what you cannot. His removals are acts of love. Today, approach God with confidence, bringing all your burdens, sins, and questions directly to Him.
Day 4: The Danger of Picking Up Tables Again
Reading: 2 Peter 2:20-22
Devotional: The sobering reality is that Matthew 21 records the second time Jesus cleansed the temple. After He cleared it once, people returned to their old patterns, setting up the tables again. We do the same thing. God delivers us from something, and we pick it back up. He cleanses us, and we return to what made us unclean. But here's the truth: transformation isn't about your willpower; it's about abiding in Him. Your job isn't to change yourself—it's to keep coming to Jesus. Keep praying when it feels ineffective. Keep reading Scripture when it seems confusing. Keep taking steps toward God. One day you'll look back and realize you've walked away from something without even knowing it, because who the Son sets free is free indeed.
Day 5: Making Room for Healing
Reading: Isaiah 56:6-8
Devotional: After Jesus cleared the temple, Matthew 21:14 says, "Now there was room for the blind and the crippled to get to Him." When the clutter was removed, the hurting could access the Healer. God's temple isn't just a building—it's you. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. What needs to be cleared out to make room for God's healing work in your life? Blessed are the poor in spirit—those who recognize their need—for theirs is the kingdom of God. God welcomes the broken, the lame, the overlooked, and the desperate. He's not looking for perfection; He's looking for willingness. Today, clear space in your life for God. Turn off distractions. Create margin. Make room for the blind and broken parts of yourself to encounter Jesus and receive His healing touch.
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