DAY 16

“The greatest tragedy in life is the prayers that go unanswered because they go unasked. I don’t pretend to understand where the sovereignty of God and free will of humans meet, but it motivates me to work like it depends on me and pray like it depends on God. And if we do these two things, God will keep surprising us.”

- Mark Batterson

TODAYS READING: Acts 12:5-16

PRAYER: "God, as I open myself up to you in these moments to read this passage fresh and anew, I ask that you reveal to me that which you would have me learn today. Help me see. More than that, I pray for transformation as I take what you show me and apply it to my life. Amen."

“5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church...7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.”” — Acts 12:5-8

We don't often realize the power of prayer. Constant prayer can ebb and flow like shifting tides. You need to understand that some days are sowing days while others are reaping day. Sometimes the sowing goes day after day; sowing, sowing, sowing. This is where stubborn faith comes in. Even when we're wearing or praying dutifully, we continue to sow and God honors our faith. His word never returns void--but we must sow it.

Then there's the reaping day. These could be anything from a small victory to looking your promise square in the eye. When I read these scriptures a few days ago, it made for a wonderful reaping day! God illuminated His word to me and gave me the revelation I'm writing today. In a dry season of sowing, I got the refreshment I needed. I thought of all those believers in a small, candlelit room at midnight. It was the eve of Paul's execution and they were praying constantly. Among them was a servant girl, Rhoda. It probably seemed like an impossible situation. No man got pardoned unless the king said so, and Herod was bent on Paul's execution.

Little did they know, God was working the miraculous as they prayed. Imagine if we could take a glimpse of the heavenlies working in our favor as we pray. We might see the same, mundane sowing days with an occasional sprout of hope or confirmation. But we don't see the roots pushing through tough soil, drinking in nutrients, growing and spreading, anchoring themselves, delving deeper to form a foundation. We don't see our prayers reaching the Throne room like precise arrows, filling bowls of intercession.

When we partner with God's will, our prayers pulsate with the beat of His heart and He commands angels to aid us and carry out His will. That's how powerful prayer can be. All we see is the fruit. Sometimes sowing takes so long that when we see our prayers fulfilled, we can hardly believe it. We know God can do the impossible but we have to believe it.

“13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. 15 But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.”16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” — Acts 12:13-16

Rhoda knew Paul's voice. She knew without a doubt that their prayers had been answered. Don't you want to be like her? Don't you want to know God's voice without a doubt and pray His will? I want to have faith so stubborn that my prayers shake the heavens. We have this amazing opportunity to partner with God to do the impossible.

The power of prayer is no small little thing. It's the most powerful weapon that we as believers can wield. Let us remember to pray with the authority we're given.

Challenge: Keep sowing and reaping. Don't give up. Have faith. Don't stop.

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