Acts 6 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Acts 6.

Meditate on verse 10.

But they were unable to cope with the wisdom

 and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

If you have been reading the chapters that accompany these devotionals, you are reading Luke’s account to Theophilus (Acts 1:1-2) about all Jesus began to do and teach, until the day He was taken up to heaven (the book of Luke) and all Jesus did through the disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit to build His church (the book of Acts). Acts 6:7 described this amazing church growth:

The Word of God kept on spreading;

and the number of the disciples

continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem,

 and a great many of the priests

were becoming obedient to the faith.

That is a good verse to pray over the church today.

Acts 6 also contains Godly characteristics of those chosen to serve in the church. Pray those characteristics from Acts 6:3, 5, 8, and 10 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let ________ and me be of

good reputation, full of the Spirit,

and full of wisdom. 

Put us in charge of Your tasks.

May we be full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Fill us with Your grace and power.

May we, like Stephen, speak with wisdom and the Spirit.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Acts 5 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Acts 5.

Meditate on verse 14.

And all the more believers in the LORD,

multitudes of men and women,

were constantly added to their number.

Christianity is unstoppable. Fighting against the spread of the Gospel of Jesus is fighting against God (Acts 5:39). As a believer in Jesus Christ, Acts 5 is an encouraging chapter. The apostles knew Christ was risen from the dead. They could not stop teaching and preaching Jesus as the Messiah (Acts 5:42). Ask God to give you the same boldness.

Pray Acts 5:20 and 42 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ________ and I go and speak

the whole message of this Life. 

Every day, let us keep right on teaching and preaching

You, Jesus, as the Christ.

In Your name~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Acts 4 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Acts 4.

Meditate on verse 13.

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John

and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men,

they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Do people recognize you as having been with Jesus? Does the way you act and talk reflect that you know Christ? Peter and John could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20). Continually tell what Jesus has done for you.

Pray Acts 4:29 and 31 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may ________ and I be Your bond-servants

and speak Your Word with all confidence.

Fill us with the Holy Spirit

to be able to speak the Word of God with boldness.

In Your name, Jesus~”

Additional insight:

Acts 4 is a continuation of the event recorded in Acts 3. The man who was walking, leaping, and praising God was standing with Peter and John—he had been lame for more than 40 years (Acts 4:14, 22). By the name of Jesus Christ, the man stood before the people in good health (Acts 4:10). Jesus did the impossible!

What are you believing God for today? The LORD made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them (Acts 4:24). Nothing is too difficult for Him!

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Acts 3 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Acts 3.

Meditate on verse 9-10

And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

 and they were taking note of him as being the one

 who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms,

 and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Jesus’ church had begun, and a miracle of healing took place. A beggar who had never walked a day in his life was healed in the name of Jesus Christ. His feet and ankles were immediately strengthened, and he entered the temple walking and leaping and praising God.

This physical healing is a picture of the spiritual healing that takes place in every Christian’s life. Before Jesus, you were incapable of walking a day of your life with God. Once you were saved in the name of Jesus Christ, the rest of your life is spent walking with Christ praising God. People notice that before Christ you were a spiritual beggar. But, because of what Jesus did and is doing in you, people are amazed and filled with wonder.

Does Acts 3:1-12 describe you? If not, then, “Repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you”(Acts 3:19-20).

Pray Acts 3:19 and 26 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please cause ___________ to repent and return,

so their sins may be wiped away,

 in order that times of refreshing may come from Your presence.

God, thank You for raising Jesus and sending Him

to bless us by turning every one of us from our wicked ways.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Acts 2 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Acts 2.

Meditate on verse 42.

They were continually devoting themselves

 to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,

to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2 is the account of how Christ’s church started. Look at the place names in verses 9-11. You will recognize many of them from today’s news. The church is people from every nation.

People’s reaction to church has not changed in 2000 years. It varies from amazement to perplexity to mocking (Acts 2:12-13).

Peter explained the way a person becomes a part of Christ’s church in three steps in verse 38: 1) repent, 2) be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and 3) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then in verse 42, Luke listed four things a disciplined follower of Christ, someone who is part of church, will be devoted to: 1) teaching, 2) fellowship, 3) breaking bread, and 4) prayer.

Verses 46-47 told the results of that kind of devotion.

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple,

and breaking bread from house to house,


they were taking their meals together with

gladness and sincerity of heart,

praising God and having favor with all the people.

And the LORD was adding to their number

 day by day those who were being saved.

To what are you devoted? Pray Acts 2:42 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, let __________ and me continually be devoted

to the teaching of Your Word,

to fellowship,

 to the breaking of bread,

and to prayer.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Acts 1 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Acts 1.

Meditate on verse 14a.

These all with one mind were continually

 devoting themselves to prayer.

Luke continued his consecutive account to Theophilus of Christ and His church in the book called Acts (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-2). Acts begins with Christ commissioning His followers to be His witnesses in the power of the promised Holy Spirit. Christ ascended, and as the disciples waited for the Holy Spirit, they continually prayed.

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray in Luke 11:1. Since that day, they had learned through the trials of life the importance of prayer. In obedience, they continued to pray.

God calls you to continually devote yourself to prayer. Ask Him to teach you how to pray. Ask Him to awaken that part of your brain where you can be talking to someone and talking to God at the same time. Ask Him to quicken your ability to memorize a Bible verse and then pray it all day over someone you love. Ask Him to teach you how to pray with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).

Pray Acts 1:14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, may _________ and I be of one mind,

 the mind of Christ. 

Help us continually devote ourselves to prayer.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 24 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 24. 

Observe references to the Word of God.

Meditate on verse 45.

Then He opened their minds

 to understand the Scriptures.

Contrast Luke 24:11 with Luke 24:45. At the beginning of the chapter, the words the disciples heard appeared as nonsense, and they would not believe them. By the end of the chapter, because of being with Jesus, their minds were opened to understand the Scriptures.

The Word of God brings clarity to every aspect of your life. Jesus is asking you the same question He asked His followers, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:38).

Read and hear God’s Word. Be blessed, worship Him, and praise Him continually (Luke 24:51-53).

Pray Luke 24:45 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, open _________ and my mind

to understand the Scriptures.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 23 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 23.

Meditate on verse 21.

But they kept on calling out, saying,

 “Crucify, crucify Him!”

How do you respond to Jesus? Are you like the people in Luke 23:21? Does your lifestyle betray Jesus and treat Him as if you wish He were dead?

Or are you like those in Galatians 5:24? “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Have you crucified your sinful passions and desires? Do you live in Christ?

Luke 23 recorded what Christ offered to all mankind and the various ways people responded to Him. The gracious Savior said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (v. 34). Some responded by mocking, sneering, and hurling abuse. Others responded by beating their breasts, praising God, and asking Jesus to remember them.

What is your response to the forgiveness of Christ?

Pray Luke 23:34, 42, and 47 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Father, thank You for Your undeserved forgiveness. 

Remember _______ and me in Your Kingdom

May we live to praise You. 

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 22 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 22.

Meditate on verse 32.

But I have prayed for you,

 that your faith may not fail;

 and you, when once you have turned again,

strengthen your brothers.

Imagine Jesus Himself praying for you like He prayed for Peter.  Jesus does pray for you that way.  Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus is able to save you forever because He always lives to make intercession for you. Jesus is living to always pray for you.  Meditate on that truth.

Jesus not only prays for you; He commands you to pray.  Twice in Luke 22, Jesus issued a command to pray.  “Pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Luke 22:40, 46).

Jesus prayed and prayed and prayed in this chapter.  He prayed immediately (v. 41). He prayed fervently (v. 44).  He prayed for others (v. 32).  He prayed for the will of His Father to be done (v. 42). 

Heed the command of Christ to pray and follow His example of how to pray.

Pray Luke 22:40-44 and 46 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, help ________ and me to pray

so we will not enter into temptation.

Teach us to pray like You,

immediately and fervently.

 May Your will to be done, not ours.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 21 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 21.

Meditate on verse 28.

But when these things begin to take place,

 straighten up and lift up your heads

 because your redemption is drawing near.

This chapter is full of end time prophecies declared by Jesus.  Some of them have been fulfilled, like verse 6 in 70 AD, and others are happening even as you read this, like verses 25-26. 

This chapter is also filled with commands to you from Jesus, like verse 28.  “Straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” 

Ask God to show you areas in your life where you need to straighten up.  Your time on earth is short.  It is time to lift up your head and fix your eyes on Christ.

Pray Luke 21:8, 28, 31, 34, and 36 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, do not let _________ and me be misled. 

Help us to straighten up, lift up our heads,

and recognize that Your Kingdom is near. 

Let us be on our guard,

so our hearts will not be weighed down

with dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life. 

Let us keep on the alert at all times,

 praying at all times

that we may have strength to escape

all these things that are about to take place.

In order to stand before You, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 20 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 20.

Meditate on verse 13.

The owner of the vineyard said,

“What shall I do? 

I will send my beloved son;

 perhaps they will respect him.”

Do you respect Jesus? Do your thoughts, words, and actions show you really respect Jesus Christ, or are you like the spies sent by the scribes and chief priests who pretended to be righteous? God knows your heart. Be honest with yourself and Him.

Pray Luke 20:17-18 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Jesus, You are the Chief Cornerstone. 

Please let ________ and me build our lives on You.

As we fall on You,

 break to pieces all the areas of our life

where we are pretending to be righteous. 

Rebuild us to live in honor and respect of You.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 19 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 19.

Meditate on verses 30 and 31.

Go into the village ahead of you;

there, as you enter you will find a colt tied

on which no one yet has ever sat;

untie it and bring it here. 

If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” 

you shall say, “The LORD has need of it.”

Jesus entered, not only Jerusalem, but the week of His life when He became the sin of all mankind (2 Corinthians 5:21). He walked from Jericho through the desolate Judean wilderness, to a mountain outside of Jerusalem. He then mounted a colt that had never been ridden in its life, rode down the steep mountain on a winding road, through a valley, up another hill into the gates of Jerusalem. He chose to make His triumphal entry into the most important week in the history of the world on an untamed donkey. Twice Luke recorded that the LORD needed that donkey. The moment that donkey’s Creator sat on it, the untamed beast maneuvered up and down steep paths, with crowds of people cheering and tossing cloaks and palm branches in front of its face; all the while, performing brilliantly because it was under the control of Christ.

That donkey is the picture of your life. Before Jesus, you were an untamed beast, a wild donkey of a person, but Jesus needed you. He needed to be in a relationship with you, so He chose and tamed you, and He goes with you on the winding up and down paths of life.

You are praying for people who appear to be wild donkeys. Jesus has need of them, too. Pray for them to come under Christ’s control.

Pray Luke 19:6, 9, and 48 over those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, make __________ like Zaccheus, who received You gladly.


Let salvation come to their house.

May they hang on to every Word You say.

 In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 18 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 18.

Meditate on verses 1 and 38.

Now He was telling them a parable

to show that at all times

they ought to pray and not to lose heart. 

And he called out saying,

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Do you ever grow weary in prayer? Satan wants you to give up praying for people and situations. God tells you to wear Him out with your petitions (Luke 18:5). “Give the LORD no rest until He establishes ...” (Isaiah 62:7).

What is weighing heavy on your heart today? God wants you to cry out to Him. The blind man in Luke 18 kept crying out to Jesus to have mercy on him. Jesus responded by asking the blind man what he wanted done for him. The man told Jesus his need to see, and immediately Jesus caused him to regain his sight.

Amazing! It is no coincidence chapter 18 ends with a real life example of someone praying at all times and not losing heart.

Pray Luke 18:38-39 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Jesus, Son of David, 
have mercy on __________ and me!

Son of David,
 have mercy on __________ and me!”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 17 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 17.

Meditate on verse 10.

So you too, when you do all the things

which are commanded you, say,

“We are unworthy slaves;

we have done only that

which we ought to have done.”

Do you ever get a case of the “oughts”? “I ought to be appreciated.” “I ought to get paid.” “I ought to be noticed.” “I ought to be treated with more respect.” “I ought ... I ought ... I ought ...”

The Bible says you ought to do everything God tells you to do. He even gives Himself as the example of how you ought to do it. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who ... emptied Himself taking the form of a bond-servant” (Philippians 2:5-7).

Serve others for the sake of Christ. Examine your heart. Do you have any ulterior motives?

Pray Luke 17:10 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“Jesus, You ought not to have died for ___________ and me.

Help us to follow in Your steps with this attitude:


After we have done everything You commanded us,
may we say,

 ‘We are unworthy slaves;

we have done only that which we ought to have done.’

 In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 16 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 16.

Meditate on verse 10.

He who is faithful in a very little thing

 is faithful also in much;

 and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing

is unrighteous in much.

This chapter contains some teachings that may be difficult to understand. Verse 10, however, is not difficult to understand and tells you what is important to God: faithfulness and righteousness. It is important to God that you are faithful and righteous in the very little things, even the things the world would say are not important. Little things are a big deal to God. Take some time to examine your life. Ask God to show you tiny areas where you need to be more faithful and more righteous.

Pray Luke 16:10 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please make _________ and me

faithful in the very little things


so we will be faithful in much.


Make us righteous in little things


so we will be righteous in much.

Because You are faithful and righteous, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 15 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 15.

Meditate on verse 32.

But we had to celebrate and rejoice,

for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live,

 and was lost and has been found.

Are there people for whom you are praying? Are you praying for them to come to Christ? Perhaps they have wandered away from God like a lost sheep. Perhaps they are lost and need to be found by Jesus like a lost coin. Perhaps they have squandered the riches of the Father and want to return to Him in humility. Perhaps they pride themselves as always being with the Father, yet need a heart of compassion like Christ’s.

Pray Luke 15:17 and 20 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, please let ____________ come to their senses!

Thank You for feeling compassion for us
 even when we are still a long way off.


Thank You for seeing us, running to us,
 embracing and kissing us.


Father, give me Your compassion for others.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

Luke 14 ~ Praying God's Word

Please read Luke 14.

Meditate on this phrase from verse 35.

He who has ears to hear,

 let him hear.

Do you have ears to hear Jesus Christ? Jesus had lots of things for you to hear in this chapter. Please reread it. Before you do, pray for God to give you the ears of Christ that can and will listen to God. Pray to have the heart of Christ that will love God more than self and anyone else. Pray to have the obedience of Christ that will give up any and everything to be His disciple.

Pray Luke 14:10, 17, 27, and 33 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

“LORD, You have given the invitation:

 ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’

May _________ and I come to You not seeking a place of honor.

Make us Your disciples as we come after You,

carrying our cross, dying to self.

May we come giving up everything to be Your disciples.

In Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL ~ Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell