Watch Him Work

Acts 12:4-11 NRSV

“When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.  Peter Delivered from Prison The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

While there is great power in prayer, there is great power in collective prayer. Get the picture of how God delivered Peter from sure death as he would be executed right after Passover. The thing is that while the church was praying, Peter was resting. With all of the precautions to keep Peter locked up, he walked right out. 

There are times in our lives that we may feel so bound, under duress and in distress that there is no way out. But God. When we are clear of whom we serve, we can rest in spite of - we rest knowing that God is moving. We rest knowing that prayer changes situations. Trust that God is moving on our behalf. Watch what he is doing. 

enough for now.