Title: Even Lousy Praying Gets Results! / Topic: Prayer

Today’s Reading: Job 6; Job 7; Job 8; Acts 12

Scripture: Acts 12:11-16
11 Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating."
12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, "Peter is at the door!"
15 "You're out of your mind," they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, "It must be his angel."
16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.

Observation: This always cracks me up. Here is a group of people praying for Peter, who has been arrested and is being held for execution by Herod. They know they must pray because Herod already killed James, and Peter is scheduled to be put on trial the next day. Amazingly, while they are praying, God sends an angel to spring Peter from his chains and jail cell.

In the verses listed, Peter goes to a house where a prayer meeting is in session and he knocks at the door. A servant girl named Rhoda goes out to answer it and upon hearing Peter's voice, rushes back into the meeting to announce to everyone that Peter is at the door!

Now notice their faith-filled response: "You're out of your mind!" That's what the people praying for Peter's release said to her. When she kept insisting, they told her, "It must be his angel," which I take to mean they thought Peter was already dead. Some great faith they have. But Peter kept on knocking and eventually somebody came out and opened the door. When they saw him standing there alive, "they were astonished!"

Application: I love this because it shows that these people were praying in obedience and desperation, but certainly not in faith. They did not expect Peter to be released. They clearly thought it much more likely that he would be killed. But Peter was released in answer to their pitiful prayers. This shows that even lousy praying gets results!

Bottom line: Pray, pray, pray! It's great if you have faith, but even if you don't, keep on praying. God will answer even the obedient prayers of those without faith. Isn't that encouraging!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord. Even when we are faithless, You remain faithful for You cannot deny Yourself. Help me to keep praying and seeking Your intervention for my every need -- especially when the situation looks hopeless. I am so glad that Your intervention is not dependent upon my doing everything right. Help me to grow in the regular, obedient exercise of prayer in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.