Peter's Imprisonment and the power of prayer

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James .... with the sword and .... he proceeded further to seize Peter also .... he put him in prison, ..... constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ..... Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, .... he struck Peter on the side ..... saying "Arise quickly!" And his chains fell off his hands ....... And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me." ....... they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. ....... he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John ........ where many were gathered together praying. And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognised Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Acts 12 v. 1-5, 7-8, 10, 12-15.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath. Prayer with God is important without communing with God we cannot know God. We cannot grow as Christians if we do not speak to God daily, tell him our concerns, listen to his voice, know God, learn his ways.

Prayer is personal, your prayer life is special to you and in one sense it is different for each one of us. We are loving, living souls communing with our Father, not robots.

The Lord's Prayer in Mathew 6 v. 9-13 helps us with some prayer principles. We must worship God just because he his God. We bring our petitions with our request, but accept God's will for our life. Daily we bring our needs to him. We ask God to make us forgiving to others as he as forgiven us. We ask God to keep us out of temptation.

Our prayers must be prayers of belief, Peter was delivered from prison because of God's will and the faithful praying of the local church. They prayed for Peter's release but, when it happen they could not believe it!

Do we expect God to answer our prayers?

I often say my prayers,

But do I ever pray?

And do the wishes of my heart

Go with the words I say?

John Burton