Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread.
So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.
This was a critical time for the church. James, one of the three amongst Peter and John, was martyred. Herod wasn’t satisfied with his approval when he killed James, so he seized Peter and put him in prison, where Herod trusted the violence of his guards. Peter, on the other hand, trusted in GOD. The church also trusted in GOD. Their prayers for Peter were not wasted. This is the power of the prayers of a church and the prayers of those in Christ. The church stretched themselves out for Peter’s sake! They wanted him to be free with all of their hearts.
Our prayer cannot see similar results when our prayers are not earnest. We need to be stretching our hearts and hands out when we are praying. We need to show true desire, so that it can be done for us. When we are so serious to see GOD’s will be done, we should be willing to give up the comforts of life.
Set your heart in alignment with GOD’s heart through your prayer. Stretch your hands out and ask GOD for the grace to pray earnestly. .
Glory be to GOD!