Constant Prayer
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. Acts 12:5
Have you ever been involved in an all-night prayer meeting? How about a prayer meeting that went on for days? I can honestly say I have not, though we do have twenty-one days of prayer twice a year and other opportunities to gather for pray each week, at church. But nothing where we come together in constant prayer for a specific situation until it is resolved no matter how long it takes. However, the fact remains that prayer is how we open the door for God to come in and intervene in our circumstances. I would go as far to say that most of us have not been in a prayer meeting that went on for days because we never had a loved one that was scheduled to be executed the next day. A life-or-death perspective can change our prayer stance completely.
I am so thankful that I have never been in a situation that was so crucial that a person’s life depended on the amount of time I spend in prayer. I know I would pray, but I don’t know for how long I could stay there. In today’s reading, the Apostle James had been publicly killed and after that, Peter was arrested to be executed the next day. He was so heavily guarded that that situation looked hopeless. But the people of God gathered together and earnestly and intently prayed and the impossible became possible with God. Prayer changes things and constant prayer will bring a miracle.
I have seen the power of prayer at work in many instances throughout my entire life. Ideally, we walk out each day in constant prayer with Him so that we are able to make decisions that keep us in line with His planned path. Checking in at every opportunity to keep the course of provision and protection and ensuring that we are not making decision based on how we feel or to please people. Continually submitting our will to His and being in the right place at the right time to impact the world around us. Praying with individuals that He brings our way to open the door into their circumstances so that they too can experience an encounter with the loving Father of heaven.
This is what we are called to. We open the door between heaven and earth as we lift up our world to Him. We make the impossible possible when we acknowledge Him in all our ways. The world around us can know what it is like to experience His presence when we take them to that open door of calling on the LORD and watching Him turn the evil things of the world into good by committing everything to Him.
Today I want to encourage you to pray. Set some time aside each day to get alone with Him. Press into Him with issues and concerns you are facing in your life and for those you love. Purpose to hear inside your heart the direction and assignment He has for you each day. Then begin to pray with others. Meet together with other believers to pray about community and global concerns. Pray with people one on one when they tell you the things they are going through personally. Walk others into the presence of God by leading them to commit their cares to Him. Lastly, walk out your day in a continual conversation with Him to keep you on the purpose you have been given life. Make the most of each day that you live in this world by bringing together the realm of heaven and earth through prayer. God’s will be done in earth as it is in heaven.
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 12:1-5
1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
The Daily Dose 