Experience - Day 25

23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,
‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? 
26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 
27 “In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

In today’s passage, I am challenged by the people’s response to the news that Peter and John shared.  Peter and John told them all that had happened, and about the threats that were made towards them and their movement if they keep speaking in the name of Jesus.  And the response of the people was to lift up their voices, together, in prayer.

I say challenged because I know myself well enough to know that I too often turn to “fix-it” mode when problems arise.  I think of all the things I can do to make the situation better.  Sometimes, though I hate to admit it, one of the last things I do is pray.  I even say, “Well, I can’t think of anything else to do so I guess I’ll pray.” (I even had a hard time writing that just now because I know it’s true more often than I want to admit)

But what if prayer was our first go-to response?  What kind of people would we be if we turned to God, first?  What kind of communities would we be if we united together in prayer whenever we faced challenges or opposition?  What kind of people and communities in deed?  Maybe we’d be 1st century kinds of followers, full of the Holy Spirit, used by God to share the good news to the ends of the earth.

And notice the first line in the prayer.  When faced with opposition, threats, they turn to God and offer Him their worship in prayer.  They recognize Him as their “Sovereign Lord” and the “Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.” This is a call back to their roots, to the God of the beginning.  They are recognizing that all things are within His power, that whatever comes their way, God is bigger and in control.  Worship is a great first response when facing trouble because it reminds us of what is most true, God is always bigger than what we face.

The start of their prayer guides the rest of it, for though they ask for boldness and healing and signs and wonders, they do so all in the name of Jesus.  They recognize where their power and hope come from, the maker of heaven and earth.

Oh that I could always remember the source of my strength, instead of thinking that it’s all up to me.  That I could remember how big God is, and how small I am.  That I could trust in the power of Jesus’ name first and always.  This is how I want to live, who I want to be, but I know I can’t do it alone.  I’m going to need my community to help me remember, we all do.  So what do you say Crosswalk?  Can we become a “Pray-First” community, united in worship and always leaning on His everlasting arms?  Can we lay down our way for His way, and can we do that, together?  I sure hope so.  In fact, I’m going to try to do better and praying that we would be a community of prayer first, always.

Questions to Consider

1. When faced with challenges or opposition, what is your go-to response?
2. When do you turn to prayer?  What kinds of things push you to your knees the most?
3. Would you be willing to pray, once a day, for our Crosswalk communities?  Would you be willing to commit to praying that our communities would turn to prayer first; and that we’d lean on our Sovereign God each day to show us the way?