Weekend, November 9, 2024
God Can Change the Narrative
About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (Acts 12:1-3 NLT)
Everyone needs a change of narrative sometimes. When life seems to be trending toward disaster, chaos, uncertainty, or suffering, it’s comforting to know that God can intervene. He can rewrite the script. All we have to do is ask. God uses prayer to change not just our circumstances but our attitudes and perspectives, our hearts and minds.
When we pray, we’re acknowledging our weakness. That’s a hard thing for some people to do. We think, I can figure this out. I can resolve this conflict. I can save my own family. But it doesn’t work. So we call on God and say, “Lord, I’m weak. I need Your help. Please come through for me.” And that’s when the narrative starts to change.
In Acts 12, we find a changed narrative. Things were looking dim for the early believers. King Herod had killed the apostle James and imprisoned the apostle Peter, two important church leaders. And how did the believers respond? “The church organized a protest and stormed Herod’s palace.” No, that’s not what happened. “The church boycotted all products made in Rome.” No, not that either.
Here is how the believers responded to Peter’s imprisonment: “Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5 NKJV). They prayed, but not just one time. They were engaged in constant prayer. For many people, prayer is a last resort. They say, “We’ve tried everything. All we can do now is pray.” Prayer is the first thing we should do. Paul said, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6 NLT). Nothing is too small to pray about.
Is there a troubling narrative in your life right now? Is there a circumstance that you have no control over that needs to change? Offer it to the Lord in prayer. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” (John 15:7). In other words, “Trust Me. Ask Me. I will change your narrative.”
The narrative of Acts 12 changes when an angel appears in Peter’s cell. Peter’s chains fall off, and he walks out of prison. And Herod, the man who imprisoned him, gives a speech that’s so impressive that the audience starts referring to him as a god. Herod accepts their praise, falls down dead, and is eaten by worms.
At the beginning of Acts 12, Herod held seemingly absolute power and the church was on the ropes. At the end, Herod was worm food and the church had its leader back. It was a narrative twist no one but God could have predicted. And it was an important reminder that no situation is hopeless. Every narrative can be changed through prayer, including yours.
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