God Always Overcomes!
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, we are thankful for your word that says, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16, NIV).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:1-5, NIV
REFLECT:
In Acts chapter 12, we read the story of Peter imprisoned by King Herod. What makes this such an amazing story, is that Herod had just put James, the brother of John, to death and arrested Peter, most likely to also put him to death soon, as well. Imagine the thoughts of Peter, contemplating what the next few days would hold for him at the hands of King Herod. The hope of the Church and the gospel message continuing to spread through the ministry of Peter weighed in the balance. But God had the final say! Verse 5 says, “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him!” While sleeping in the prison between two guards, an angel of the Lord awakens him to follow him out of the prison. Peter’s chains literally fall off him and they both walk out undetected as they leave the prison! Verse 11 is a testament to this miracle of the Lord, “then Peter came to himself and said, ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”
Scene two after the prison break is almost as amazing! Peter goes to the house of Mary where so many believers had gathered to pray for Peter. Peter knocks on the door and the servant girl is so overjoyed to hear his voice that she leaves him outside and runs in to tell the others! The people in the house tell her she’s crazy! Even denying she heard Peter, but instead, must have heard his angel. Then they opened the door and are thrilled to welcome Peter in! Sometimes the very thing we ask God for simply amazes us beyond our belief!
APPLY:
What is at the top of your prayer list today? Do you believe God can answer you? What if this very day, God demonstrated his amazing power and responded to your hearts cry with a miracle that could only be from him? He can! Will you be ready? Will you open the door to such a miracle or leave him outside when you hear God’s voice telling you he’s there? Remember, God’s timing is always perfect. He may not perform to our prayers exactly as we would script them. But in reality, we should thank him for not doing so many times. His plan is always the right plan. Isaiah 55:9, NIV, says “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
CLOSING PRAYER:
Heavenly father, teach us to “seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon,” (Isaiah 55:6-7, NIV).