4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Ezra 9-10
Acts 11:27-12:19

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Acts 12:13-16 (CSB): “He (Peter) knocked at the door of the outer gate, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer. She recognized Peter’s voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the outer gate. ‘You’re out of your mind!’ they told her. But she kept insisting that it was true, and they said, ‘It’s his angel.’ Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

The apostle Peter had been in prison. It appeared that after the passover, his head was going to be on the chopping block. But God had other plans. The Lord miraculously freed Peter from the prison cell and he made his way to John Mark’s mom’s house where Christians had gathered to pray for him.

The verses I shared earlier illustrate how he knocked on the door and people did not believe that God had actually answered their prayer. They were praying to a God who answers prayer, but they weren’t sure He was going to do what they asked him to do.

We say we believe the biblical promises about how God answers prayer. But the surprise we often demonstrate when God actually answers one of our prayers should cause us to realize that we have more in common with those first century doubting Christians than we may realize.

Let’s seek to cultivate a prayer life that truly trust in God‘s promises. Let’s learn the biblical prayer principles that will enable us to have prayers that get heard and answered. And let’s ask for God‘s grace to rest in Him to move in His way, and in His time. And then let’s be overjoyed like Rhoda, and not doubtful like the rest of the group that met Peter at the front door.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you learn and comply with biblical prayer principles, including faith that rests in a God who hears and answers prayer.

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky.