Praying in Faith

The Upper Room Devotion for Tuesday, June 11, 2024, was written by Catherine Kwao of Greater Accra Region, Ghana

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Scripture

1 About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. 3 After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) 4 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. 5 While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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.” 9 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. 10 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. 11 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.” 12 As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. 13 When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. 14 On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” 16 Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. 17 He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and to the believers.” Then he left and went to another place.

Acts 12:1-17 NRSV

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Author's Thoughts

Our Church holds evening services twice a week on an open field. On Sunday as we were setting up for a service, thick, dark clouds began to gather. My pastor husband said, "Let's pray for fair weather," and we began to pray fervently. Soon we heard heavy rain hitting roofs in the distance as the powerful storm approached. Everyone ran for shelter. Miraculously, no rain fell on our meeting grounds, despite the heavy downpour around us.

Sometimes we pray but inwordly doubt that God will answer us. We may not always feel like we have the "mountain-moving faith" Jesus talked about, and we're not alone. When Peter was in prison, "constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church." But when Peter was miraculously released and went to Mary's house, the people praying there didn't believe it was Peter knocking on the door.

God understands how quickly we get discouraged when things don't go as we expect. But that's one reason God gave us the Holy Spirit - to remind us that even when we are discouraged, God still works for our good.

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Author's Prayer

Heavenly Father, encourage us when we doubt, and give us Grace to trust in your promises. Amen.