Prayers Of The Heart
BRD REFLECTIONS
(Alvin Chua, Chairperson, Christian Outreach and Social Concerns)
READ:
Acts 12:1-16 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
As King Herod saw that persecuting the church and killing James (John’s brother) greatly pleased the Jewish people, he arrested Peter too. Herod intended to bring Peter out for a public trial after the Passover. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
God heard their prayers and sent an angel to rescue Peter miraculously. Initially, Peter believed that he was simply seeing a vision of an angel coming to his rescue. However, he finally realised the reality and went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. When the servant girl named Rhoda recognised Peter’s voice, she ran to report to everyone that Peter was knocking at the door, but in their disbelief, they replied: “You’re out of your mind!”.
APPLY:
What was the group of believers praying for in the house of Mary before they opened the door and realised that Peter had been rescued by God? I suppose many were praying for the safety of themselves and of the church. It is also plausible that the prayer focus was their beloved leader, Peter — perhaps praying for God’s protection on Peter and deliverance from prison. However, their initial response to the servant girl Rhoda, revealed that they didn’t believe that God would save Peter from the hands of King Herod.
Jesus said: “You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:22 NLT)
The church did not expect God to rescue Peter. Why then did God answer their prayers, despite the attitude of “disbelief”?
At this juncture, I am quite puzzled by this thought of mine! Could it be that God sympathised with their fear and suffering? Or was it because God loved Peter so much? Or was it for God’s glory?
Yes! I believe all these were reasons that God answered their prayers. However, I am also convinced that the church deeply loved God and loved each other. They must have had strong faith in God too. Otherwise, they could have denied their faith in God or gone into hiding, but instead, they gathered at Mary’s house to pray earnestly! I’m sure they must have pleased and moved God.
“And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” (1 John 3:22 NLT)
As I read, meditate and pray, I have learned that God does not only answer my petitions submitted to him through prayers. More importantly, prayer deepens my love for Him and for people around me, and deepens my relationships as well. In my weaknesses, the Holy Spirit within me will help me to pray. Though my faith is as small as a mustard seed, God will grow me and use me eventually as a big tree, so that I can be a blessing to many.
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness….the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. (Romans 8:26 NLT)
DO:
In this season of my life, many commitments have taken up most of my time and energy. However, my heart’s desire is to seek to comprehend the deep love of God for me. To be honest, I find it so abstract. I desire to have the experience of one’s heart being “strangely warmed” too, but that experience has not been given to me (or at least not in a way I expect). I have figured out that the answer to my heart’s desire is Prayers: Prayers of my heart.
I will commit to the discipline of prayer more diligently.
PRAY:
O Heavenly Father, my Gracious Saviour, remove my disbelief and increase my faith as I pray. Help me to grasp how wide, how long, how high and deep is the love of Christ! Amen!
