The Power of Prayer
Acts 12:5-17
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”
Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
Here’s the thing, if I am willing to admit it, sometimes I can be moody. The problem I think is that I tend to get it in my own head, and I go down these tunnels. Now when I am in an emotionally healthy state those tunnels can provide focus and tenacity. But when I feel frustrated those tunnels can lead to a lonely dark pity party of anger (when I use the term “anger” I am not saying rage, but that feeling we get when we just want to groan “UGH!”) and entitlement “I’ve worked hard I should have …”
I know achieving goals takes time, but sometimes the waiting is the hardest thing to do. As Proverbs 13:12 says: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” And yet waiting and learning to wait on God builds character and patience, as well as trust and faith.
So, what about the “Moment”? Well, it hit me yesterday morning. Just a sense of peace and clarity. Have you ever felt that Friend? Amid all the anxiety of the world, suddenly, it is like the Holy Spirit comes on you. You want to hold on to that moment, to capture it to bottle it up. I would love to bottle it up and share it with you!
As I experienced this lasting Moment. I wondered at its cause. Where did it come from. Then I felt as if an answer was whispered into the ear of my soul, a reminder of things I once knew so clearly. It’s source, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and it’s cause…. Somebody has been praying for me. Not just a popcorn prayer but a deep intercession on my behalf before the throne of God. (To whomever it was, Thank You!) I share this with you for several reasons. First, I want you to seek this experience, the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Second, I want you to know you are being prayed for right now. And third I want you to pray today deeply for whomever God has put upon your heart. As it says in James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Prayer: Jesus I ask you to keep me sensitive and aware of the presence of your Spirit with me and in me. Give me ears to hear and make me faithful to pray for all those whom you are calling me to intercede for. May your power be manifest in my life and the lives of those I care about.
Amen.
Point to Ponder: Do I truly believe that at the sound of my voice, God’s Spirit moves and angels are commanded to work in the heavenly realms? How would it change my prayers if I fully believed that every word I prayed held that immense weight and power?
Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
Application: Stop and ask God whom you should pray for right now… then do it, pray deeply, passionately, and fervently.
Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage.
