Day 7, January 16

 
 

Prayer Changes Everything!

 

Scriptures:

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  

Acts 12:5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

 

Thought for Today:  Prayer changes everything! Understanding the power of prayer will change your life. When we pray, we gain a personal audience with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we pray according to God’s Word, by the power of the Holy Spirit, He hears us and answers our prayers. When we pray together, God releases His mighty power in the middle of our circumstances and everything changes including our hearts.

 

Acts 12 describes an amazing story of the power of prayer and how prayer changed everything. The passage tells of Herod, the king harassing the church. He killed James, the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw the Jews excitement, he had Peter arrested and placed in prison during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Peter was the spiritual leader of the church, and was highly respected and honored by the believers. So, Herod seized the opportunity to make an example of him. It seemed that Herod’s next step would be to execute Peter as a way to crush the spread of the church. Acts 12:5 tells us, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Look at what happens…as Peter was held captive in prison, the church prayed! Those saints knew that when they prayed, God would hear them, answer their prayers, and their prayers changed everything! The passage goes on to describe that while Peter was sleeping, he was bound with two chains between two soldiers with two prison guards at the door. Immediately, an angel of the Lord stood by Peter, and a light shined in the prison and the angel struck Peter and awakened him from his sleep. Miraculously, the angel called Peter to get up and put on his clothes and sandals…and the chains fell off his hands! Peter was set free from bondage and delivered by God’s mighty power because the people of God prayed!

 

The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much! (James 5:16) Prayer is one of our most powerful weapons, yet we don’t use it as often as we should. When we pray according to His will, God saves, He breaks chains, He heals, He delivers, He works miracles!

 

Will you commit to increasing the time you spend each day in prayer? Will you commit to a life of prayer? Will you commit to praying in faith with other believers for God to move by His awesome power? 

 

It’s Time to Pray: Heavenly Father, teach me the power of prayer. Give me a passion for prayer. Help me to pray effective, fervent prayers that change everything. Help me Lord, to unite with other believers in prayer…
 
 

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