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!

God’s Word: 

Nehemiah 1:4–5 (GNB)

When I heard all this, I sat down and wept. For several days I mourned and did not eat. I prayed to God, “LORD God of Heaven! You are great, and we stand in fear of you. You faithfully keep your covenant with those who love you and do what you command

My Thoughts: 

Nehemiah, although comfortable and content where he was at in the king’s castle, yet he was very concerned, deeply distressed, and wanted desperately for God to relieve the distress that his fellow citizens were encountering – as he heard from brothers who had just returned from Judah. Most important of all, he was not just willing to feel sorry about he fellow citizens, instead he did a lot more – His heart was so impacted by the news he received that he went several days without food, mourning and constantly praying to God out of deep concern for the people that he dearly loved.

Challenge: 

Friends, today we have much deeper, and way more personal concerns that are affecting our families, our churches, our cities. When last have we done like Nehemiah?  When last have we inquired about the state of our church – the needs, concerns and issues that are impacting the ministry? And your family, when last have you been concerned enough about the physical and spiritual needs of each family member that you ‘cried out’ to Jesus for a divine touch, and healing of the bitterness, pride, selfishness and anger that separate so many families? Just yesterday I heard from two friends about deep wounds within families that have placed a wedge between father and son, and in another case between two brothers. Think about this friends, these are not just acquaintances, or fellow citizens, these are close, blood relatives! Within each of our own personal families we have members who are just like these two cases mentioned. If you don’t, please pray for my family or another friend’s family that you know fit this description. Friends, we will not see God work through these kinds of messes – this kind of selfish ‘SIN’. We must drop down these walls and bare ourselves of these offenses, so that God’s Holy Spirit will have the liberty to work through us to reach other family members who might also be struggling, or perhaps a friend who desperately needs our help and prayers over their family’s separation from God. I am convinced that God will not use us when we have so much to clear up with Him ourselves. He is a holy and righteous God and He will not work through vessels that are burdened with sin and discord. Our family members are dying and going to Hell, while we sit back in our pride and allow Satan to work out his evil plans in our lives. How can we possibly witness to a fellow worker, or friend, when God is not invited to cleanse our own hearts? It just can’t happen friend, they will see straight through your pretense.

Prayer: 

Father, through the desperation of my own heart and on behalf of my own family, I ‘cry out’ to you for peace, harmony, love and reconciliation in the lives of family members who are deliberately separated from each other. Lord Jesus, I pray that our families will individually converse with You, and seek Your forgiveness for the sin that separate them from You. I thank You, through the assurance of Your Word, for receiving them back into Your arms as they ask for it. I believe that You will use these sad situations for which Satan has laughed and celebrated victory for so many years, to now witness through these members to others in their family, and in those within their realm of influence, that need a touch from You to also unify and love their families. Lord You are awesome, and all powerful. I know that You can do all things, and I place my trust in You today for Your powerful work in my family this day! For it is in the all powerful, all loving and awesome hands of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that I ask and plead for these things, and look forward to celebrating answered prayer very soon! Amen, and amen!

Gods Word: 

Acts 12:4–5 (GNB)

After his arrest Peter was put in jail, where he was handed over to be guarded by four groups of four soldiers each. Herod planned to put him on trial in public after Passover. So Peter was kept in jail, but the people of the church were praying earnestly to God for him.

My Thoughts:

As we meditate on these verses, it appears like the end had come for Peter – because he was placed in the custody of 16 soldiers by King Herod. They even slept chained together with Peter to make sure that he could not escape from them. Now let’s get the picture: Peter was head of the church at that time. Herod, the king, was in charge over the land and doing everything possible to flaunt his power. Herod knew that the Jews were opposed to this new line of preaching that Peter brought, as it opposed their views. So we see where we have Peter (God’s man) on one side, and we have Herod (being egged on by the Jews) on the opposing side. Herod is doing everything to show his power – just in verse 2 we are told how he put James, the brother of John to death. Now in these verses we are told of his intentions with Peter. But friends, pay attention to the fact that in the middle of all this we are told that ‘The Church’ was earnestly praying to God for Peter! I can assure you Brother, that there is nothing more satisfying and calming than to know that fellow Christians are praying for you! Sisters are great at chatting with each other, but there is nothing more comforting to a Sister, than when she knows that her support group, her fellow Christian sisters are taking her needs, in love, before the God of this universe! He is our hope friends! No matter the circumstances and no matter how grim the next moment may appear, there is hope for the Christian!

Challenge: 

Do you know this Jesus of mine, friend? Without a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, you are absent of this ‘HOPE’. On whom will you call when you have reached the ‘end of your rope’ and need help? Please contact me today and allow me to introduce you to my Lord? He is the only ‘Hope’ that we have for our every need, including our eternal future when we leave this old world! I have that ‘Hope’ and I would love for you to have the same! Why not speak with a Bible-teaching pastor today that you may know, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@Outlook.Com. This could be a day of ‘Hope’ for you that you will never forget!

Prayer:

Precious Lord, thank You for the ‘Hope’ given to those that love You and have accepted the gift of salvation available to ALL from you! Please touch the hearts and souls of those that may meditate on this devotional today, and impress upon them the importance of accepting You as Lord. Show them Your love in multiple ways today and confirm through various sources the need to make this decision while they are still able to do so. Thank You for this marvelous ‘Hope’ that I have in knowing that You are with me at all times and through every situation, and that at the end of this life here on earth I will be eternally in Your presence in Heaven – my final destination!! Praise be to God for the wonderful ‘Hope’ that I have!