Pray So God Will Want to Listen
JUNE 1
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And…he proceeded further to seize Peter also…. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison…but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and…follow me.” So…he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John…where many were gathered together praying. Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Acts 12:1-5, 7-8, 12, 16
Peter was in prison and the church was praying. They had no other recourse. They couldn’t petition the government. They had no political influence, no money to bribe Herod. But they could pray. The world might have laughed, but friend, the devil didn’t laugh.
Someone wisely said, “The devil trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.” They offered focused prayer to God, and God controls the universe.
Notice it says the church offered constant prayer on his behalf (v. 5). They prayed not only with intensity but with specificity.
What did you pray for this morning? Many of our prayers are so vague (like “Lord, save the lost”), if God were to answer them, we wouldn’t know it. And if God didn’t answer them, we wouldn’t have to admit it.
Stop praying vague, general prayers. Get specific. When they prayed for Peter and the answer came, they knew it was an answer to prayer.
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