The Willing and Able God – The Presidential Prayer Team

Rejoice in hope, be persistent in tribulation, be constant in prayer. – Romans 12:12

The apostle Peter was imprisoned, bound by chains between two soldiers with sentries guarding the door of the prison. At the same time, many gathered at the home of John Mark to pray for his release. “And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to [Peter], and a light shone in the cell.” The chains fell off, and the angel led him past the guards to the iron gate of the city which opened on its own to allow Peter to walk to John Mark’s house. Rhoda was so excited to hear his voice at the door that she left him standing there to run tell the others, but they did not believe her and were amazed to see Peter when they finally opened the door (Acts 12:6-19).

Is there something in your life right now that seems overwhelming? Have you lifted the situation up to the Lord but no answer or relief seems forthcoming? Don’t give up, keep praying! Commentator Charles Hodge says, “However adverse [your] circumstances, hope, patience, and prayer are not only duties, but the richest sources of consolation and support.” There are times the Lord allows trials so you are driven to Him. Therefore, “Rejoice in hope [the anticipation of good], be persistent in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Have faith in the ability and willingness of God to take care of you to work everything for good (Romans 8:28). The same God who brought release for Peter can help you in your situation, giving you peace and strength to go through it.

May your prayers become as natural to you as breathing. Ask the Lord to help those who govern this nation to recognize their need for Him in their lives.

Today’s Verse: Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Acts 12:6-19

⁶Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. ⁸And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

¹²When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. ¹⁹And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.