Does Prayer Make a Difference?
Acts 12 gives an account of Peter’s miraculous rescue from prison. His friend James had just been killed and Peter was bound with chains and put in a guarded cell. This was a dire situation! But as the story unfolds, we see that an angel of the Lord appeared and led Peter to safety. A miracle! However, I want to pause and take note of what Peter’s friends were doing during this ordeal.
While Peter was in prison, his friends were earnestly praying for him (v. 5). They were distraught over the pending death of their friend and leader so they were passionately praying to God on his behalf! They were fervent and focused, not just “going through the motions.” I imagine that their souls were stirred deep within them. I believe they were authentically crying out to God for help! Yet what happens next is almost comical!
When Peter is rescued, he goes to the house where his friends are gathered together praying for him. Rhoda, the servant girl, hears his knock and is overcome with joy when she recognizes Peter’s voice on the other side of the gate. She runs back to the group of pray-ers, leaving Peter standing outside, and tells them their prayers are answered! Their response? “You’re out of your mind!” Huh?
Why didn’t they believe that Peter was there? I think they had been earnestly praying for God to intervene and rescue Peter, but I don’t think they were earnestly expecting God to do it!
Sometimes we forget that prayer is not just one-way communication. It is not just a time we set aside to go through our list of requests. God listens to our prayers as we seek Him (1 Peter 3 : 12). Before we even finish speaking, He hears us (Isaiah 65 : 24). But sometimes we forget that our prayers are our most powerful resource (James 5:16 – 18). Sometimes we earnestly pray, but we forget to earnestly expect God to answer.
It is easy to fall into one-way prayer, reciting what we need, or long for, but forgetting to anticipate His answers. We are instructed to continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4 : 2). We are to be earnest and passionate in our prayers and ever watchful in our expectations! We must have faith that He hears us, and faith to remain ever hopeful as we await His response.
God doesn’t need our prayers or our expectations. He will accomplish His purposes whether we pray or not (Isaiah 46 : 9 – 11). But as we pray, we experience His presence and power in our lives. As we bring our impossible situations to Him, He delights in making a way (Isaiah 43 : 19). And as we earnestly anticipate Him, He works in our hearts and strengthens our hope.!
Does prayer make a difference? Yes, it most assuredly does!
