Forty Days of Prayer: Day 37
February 25, 2020
Day Thirty-Seven
Acts 16:25-28
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
Just to recall the powerful story of how God used Paul and Silas… they were arrested, beaten, and put in prison for their preaching. The jailer was told if Paul and Silas escaped, he would be killed. So, he locked their feet in stocks. Despite the fact that their ankles hurt, their backs were bloody from being beat, and they were cold and hungry, they still prayed and sang hymns to God. At midnight, an earthquake broke open the prison doors, setting the prisoners free. The jailer feared that he would be blamed for the jail break, and he prepared to stab himself rather than face the punishment. Paul and Silas convinced him not to harm himself. They preached the gospel to him; and he was saved, along with his entire household that night. Because Paul and Silas loved Jesus and trusted Him, the jailer and his whole family lived forever with Jesus too.
When we trust and love the Lord, we’ll be praying His will. We can’t give up on those prayers. When we don’t see God and we cry out asking where He is, let’s remember that our situation may not be about us at all. Perhaps the circumstances or our storms that we are in the midst of may not be about us. There’s a chance that we are going to witness a blessing for someone else while we are persevering through the agony and discomfort. Maybe someone is watching how you handle your situation through faith and persistence. Just maybe God is using you and your situation to save someone else.
Further reading: Acts 16:16–24; Hebrews 6:10; Matthew 5:16; James 1:17
Dear Heavenly Father,
Today as we look at our situations through a different lens, we pray that you use us in mighty ways. Thank you for your grace and mercy as we strive daily to walk in your ways and be more Christ-like. Let us be the servant and the leader you call us to be. We are not giving up on our prayers and will LOOK for our jailbreak everyday…including TODAY. Let your will be done!!
