Jesus did it and taught us to do it as well: always be praying. One of the keys to contending in revolutionary prayer is to learn to pray continually, inviting God into every life circumstance in real time. In this message, we explore not only why this is important, but how it's possible. 

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What happens when my prayers aren't answered? Is it because I don't have enough faith? Enter the story of Acts 12 — one filled with persecution, death, prayer, miraculous breakthrough, and even disbelief. It's the story of people like us who are learning that prayer is where faith and real-life collide.

For followers of Jesus, prayer isn't just something we do occasionally when we're especially thankful or desperate. Prayer is the primary language of our faith and our love. Do you want to grow in your faith and intimacy with Jesus? Grow in your life of prayer!

CLICK HERE to download a handout from this message.

Why pray? If God is sovereign and above all things, what difference could my prayers make? Over and over again, Scripture tells us that our prayers literally shape the future. That's why Jesus taught us to contend in prayer for God's will to be enacted here on earth, just as it is in heaven. But His will isn't only for our circumstances to be changed through prayer — He wants us changed us as well!

Prayer is never meant to just be "nice," or the repetition of religious words. Prayer is always meant to be revolutionary: a spiritual activity that causes radical change. As we contend in prayer, we are giving voice to our audacious hope: Jesus is Lord — He is above all things and greater than any issue we're facing. That reality changes everything!

CLICK HERE for a handout from this message.

When Jesus gave His greatest command — to go ALL IN with our love for God and others — he knew we wouldn't be able to do this in our own strength. All humanity has experienced pain and sin that's left us broken. So, "He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:3-6). The Holy Spirit provides the empowerment we need to go ALL IN, as people who are moving from brokenness to wholeness in Jesus!

In last week's message from "Jesus Week," we looked at Jesus' call to go ALL IN with all we are — heart, soul, mind, strength, and relationships. But as we look at Scripture, we come to understand this is not something we're to do alone. We're called to go ALL IN, together with others.

Our mission as followers of Jesus is to become more and more like Him. And when Jesus gave us the Greatest Commandment, He provided a blueprint for doing that very thing: by loving God fully with our heart, soul, mind and strength, plus loving others as well. Over these next days we're stepping into Jesus Week, as we're asking God to redeem, realign and reignite each facet of our lives. Find details and additional resources here: sm4.org/jesus-week

Dan Russell is a world renowned wrestler, Olympic coach and author. Along with his wife, Joy, they bring a message of faith, hope and love — and how to avoid the distractions that keep us from finishing strong!

For many, Christmas has become nothing more than a tiresome ritual. Can the joy be restored? Perhaps a key is to experience the same glory of the Lord that shone around the shepherds that first Christmas night. It terrified them for a moment — but this unexpected, different and supernatural glory, became the source of great joy and inspiration. May it be the same for us!