God’s Word Says: 

Acts 12:12–15 (GNB)

Aware of his situation, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outside door, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer it. She recognized Peter’s voice and was so happy that she ran back in without opening the door, and announced that Peter was standing outside. “You are mad!” they told her. But she insisted that it was true. So they answered, “It is his angel.”

My Thoughts: 

At the home of Mary, many people were gathered and were praying. Now, although not said, I am convinced that at the top of their prayer list was, that their friend and co-worker in the Lord, Peter might be released from prison. I believe that is very logical to assume that. In the following verses we read about the unbelief and astonishment by the group when Peter shows up at the door. Unfortunately this is how many of us pray, and this is very indicative of what we might do if our prayers were answered immediately. As mentioned in an earlier devotional, we are to ‘cry out’ or pray in earnest, or pray in desperation for the item(s) that is at the top of our prayer list, or heaviest on our minds. Give it our top priority.

Challenge: 

Consider what your immediate response would be if you got up off your knees, praying as I indicated/recommended, and standing in front of you was the answer to your prayer? If you faint, that would be a natural reaction to shock, but friend, we must have enough faith in our prayers that we would quickly break out in praise and worship to our Lord, the very One to whom we were praying for the very matter that was corrected. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1). So friends, let us pray believing and convinced that God listens to His children praying; He was the power to “Do ALL Things”; and that He will answer our prayers, if it is His will, or if He determines that answering our prayer would bring glory to Himself and not harm us. Let’s be anxiously watching for the answer to our prayers and be totally ready for a time of praise because of the answers! Even as Christians, we are undeserving of such love and blessings, so let us always be careful to praise God for His miraculous touch and response to our prayers.

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, You have carefully placed in Your Word example after example of how You miraculously answered prayer. I know that You are still God, You are the same today as You were yesterday and throughout the Bible accounts, so please strengthen my faith so that when I pray, I will always pray expecting, so much so that when I pray I will be thinking about the glorious praise and worship service to follow! Lord you are so amazing, and so good to me and Your children. Thank You, thank You, thank You, for loving us enough to hear our prayers and fulfill our expectant hearts. We ask so much, but praise to Your wonderful name, You give even more than we ask or deserve! I love You Lord, for it is in Your most precious and wonderful name that I pray! Amen!