Do you know God is always at work in our lives, in good times and hard times, and we can trust Him to bring us through the night seasons?
Acts 12:5-10- Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 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.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.
Peter was imprisoned and was about to face an unjustified trial. But he had something at work on his behalf and that is , the prayers of friends, of fellow believers, who knew it made a difference to pray for his safety and his release.In a place and time of dark isolation and loneliness, Peter had every reason to give up hope and believe his story had taken an unthinkable and hopeless turn. However, God shone a light in that dark place. In the midnight hour, Peter was awakened by an angel of the Lord telling him to stand up, get dressed, and walk out of a heavily fortified prison. He kept thinking it must be a dream. It was too easy. Things like this didn’t just happen.But as it was for Peter, it’s true for us still today: there is nothing God cannot do. His Word, His plan, and His purpose for our lives cannot be stopped no person, no pandemic, no delay can prevent Him from accomplishing His purpose in and through us.
When we live with the hope and confidence that God is greater than our circumstances, and that it makes a difference when we pray, we give faith room to grow in our hearts and His Word time to become real and active in our lives.We may not always know what to do, but we can pray James 5:16b reminds us-The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Don’t give up in prayer for your family, your nations, your church, your generation and your friends. The story God is writing in your life and family and future is not over yet. He may still be working out your answer in the night season.God can take what was meant for harm and can bring you through it, in such a way that others can’t help but see the power and goodness and faithfulness of God, even in the darkest of times.
Acts 12:24 Says- But the word of God grew and multiplied. As we share with others how God has rescued us, how He has answered our prayer, and how He has never left us alone in the hard times, our lives and our testimony, will bear witness to the miracle working power of our God. It will awaken hope and stir up faith in the hearts of others. It’s like fanning the flame of faith; the more we hear of the faithfulness of God, the more faith is stirred in our hearts and His Word becomes alive and personal in our lives too.
Our hope is not only for our sake, but it is also for the people on the other side of our story who will need to hear how God has proven Himself faithful.
Our hope is not only for our sake, but it is also for the people on the other side of our story who will need to hear how God has proven Himself faithful.
My prayer is that, no matter the hard times we encounter ,the delays, the disappointments and the hardships, we will allow the Word of God, His promises, to increase and multiply in our hearts and be outworked in such a way our lives will bear witness of the power,the goodness and faithfulness of God in every season.
Love ReinaBeaty.
