Looking for Answers?

I was having my daily Scripture read one morning and came across the following report from Acts 12—verses 5-16: “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him . . . Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell . . . the chains fell off Peter’s wrists . . . They [Peter and the angel] passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened by itself and they went through it . . . he [Peter] went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were praying . . . and a servant girl answered the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice . . . she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, ‘Peter is at the door!’ . . . ‘You’re out of your mind,’ they told her . . . ‘It must be his angel [ghost]’ . . . Peter kept on knocking . . . when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

The people had been praying for Peter’s protection and release, but when he stood before them, they were “astonished”!! Did they not really believe their prayers would be answered? Perhaps not.

Often in the midst of trouble we pray fervently to God for our need or the need of someone else. But in that time of calling out to God, do we pray with expectancy? Do we believe our prayers will be answered? Prayers should not be merely well chosen words that have an appearance of faith. We should not be surprised when answers come. We should be thankful and give praise to the one who invites us to pray, guides us in what to pray, and sends the answer at the proper time.

Father, I want to learn from You how to use that marvelous tool of access to your throne room, that which whispers to Your heart, “I trust You.”