Prayer Connects You to God’s Power
By Rick Warren

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Real Christians don’t just talk about God; they experience God. And they’re able to do that through the power of the Holy Spirit.

That’s what makes the church different from every organization. Corporations don’t have the Holy Spirit. Governments don’t have the Holy Spirit. Humanitarian organizations don’t have the Holy Spirit. God has promised the Holy Spirit to his church.

At the birth of the church, Jesus told his followers, “Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do” (Acts 1:4 CEV). And later on in the same chapter he says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV).

Jesus gave his followers instructions, but he didn’t expect them to carry them out on his own. It’s like he was saying, “The Holy Spirit is going to give you the power you need to do what I want you to do.”

Just after Jesus made this promise, he was taken up into heaven. And for the next 10 days, his followers waited and prayed. Then, on the day of Pentecost, God gave them the Holy Spirit.

There’s a direct connection in your life, too, between prayer and the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Much prayer, much power. Little prayer, little power. No prayer, no power. 

If you don’t ever pray, I guarantee you that you’re not seeing God’s power at work in your life. And you don’t have the energy to get everything done that God wants you to get done. 

A while back, I went to the kitchen one morning to make a protein shake. I was pushing all the buttons on the blender and could not get it to work. Then I realized it wasn’t plugged in. 

Your life is the same way. You may be a Christian. You may be on your way to heaven. But if you’re not plugged in to the Holy Spirit’s power, you don’t have any energy to do what God has made you to do.

So, today, start plugging into God’s Spirit through prayer. You can pray about anything. The Bible says we’re to come to God as little children. Little children are bold with their parents; they just blurt out whatever is on their heart. In the same way, your heavenly Father wants you to talk to him about anything and everything. 

The more you pray, the more you’ll find yourself connected to the power of God’s Holy Spirit and energized to do all he has made you to do.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick

Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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