WESTSIDE — “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him ... And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda. And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so.Then said they, It is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.” Acts 12:5, 13-17 (Read Acts 12)

Jesus said, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). In his first epistle, John also wrote: “And this is the confidence that we have in him [Christ Jesus], that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

But how often we fail to believe these words! We pray to the LORD God, pouring out our troubles and petitions, but don't really expect an answer. And when God in His own time and manner does answer our prayers, we are either oblivious to it or are astonished that God heard our request and did as we asked.

The church prayed for the apostle Peter when he was arrested by King Herod and held in the prison - Herod intended to kill Peter as he had killed the apostle James - but when their prayers were answered and the Lord sent His angel to deliver Peter, the believers who were gathered together to pray were reluctant to believe. Rhoda heard Peter's voice as he knocked at the door of the gate, she ran and told the other believers that Peter was outside, but they did not believe her. They accused Rhoda of being mad and, when she insisted it was so, said that it must be Peter's angel.

Should we be surprised and shocked that God would hear and answer our prayers for Jesus' sake? After all, He gave us His only-begotten Son to die for us and pay the just penalty for the sins of the world. If He so loved us that He gave us His own Son as our Redeemer, shouldn't we expect Him to hear and answer our prayers as well for Jesus' sake!

“If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31, 32).

Gracious Spirit,You have brought us to know and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ for forgiveness and life everlasting. Teach us also to believe His Word and come confidently to the Father with all our prayers and petitions trusting that He will hear and answer all our prayers for Jesus' sake. In His name we pray. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]

For the Record, Pages 9 on 09/01/2010