February 23: Weekly Focus

New Hope Church   -   February 23, 2026

February – Prayer

Prayer is more than words we say, it is an ongoing conversation with God. Through prayer we bring our joys, needs, and burdens before Him and listen for His guidance. Prayer is how we draw close to God in every circumstance, learning to depend on Him and align our hearts with His will. It is both a privilege and a practice that deepens our relationship with Him.

Week of February 23- Week 8

Reading:

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NLT)

From the very beginning, the church was marked by prayer. The early believers understood that prayer was a foundation for community, unity, and God’s power at work among them.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Why do you think prayer was such a central practice for the early church?
  2. How does prayer strengthen your relationships with others in the church?
  3. What can you learn from the devotion of the early believers?
  4. How does praying with others build your faith?
  5. Where could you add prayer into your community or life this week?

Why this matters for life today:

Prayer is powerful. When we bring our needs to God and pray for each other, lives are changed, and communities grow stronger as we see God’s faithfulness.

Take it Deeper:

  • We should pray persistently and be in tune with the Holy Spirit.

18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

  • Daniel prayed faithfully to God even when his life was at risk.

10But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.  Daniel 6:10 (NLT)

New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org