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tears into prayers
Acts 12:1-5 (JDV)
Acts 12:1 About that period King Herod forced abusive hands on some who belonged to the congregation,
Acts 12:2 and he took James out, John’s brother, using a sword.
Acts 12:3 When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the Days of the Unleavened.
Acts 12:4 After the arrest, he put him in prison and assigned four squads of four soldiers each to keep him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the congregation was praying fervently to God for him.
tears into prayers
We have already encountered several deaths in this book, and several cases of unfair treatment and incarceration. The story shows that the believers faced opposition, and that opposition was often severe. After James was executed and Peter arrested, what did these believers do? They were obviously disappointed and discouraged, and may have felt like giving up. But they turned their tears into prayers, asking God to spare the life of their friend and leader.
There are times in the Christian life when the plan goes awry, and periods when it looks like the enemy is going to win. Turn those times into periods of fervent prayer, and let your faith lean on the everlasting arms of your Father in the sky.
Father, we bring our broken hearts to you. Only you can turn this mess into a miracle.
Devotions 