A Prayer That Moves God's Power
Scripture Passage: Acts 9:32-43 (NASB)
32 Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he also came down to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed. 34 Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.” Immediately he got up. 35 And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which when translated means Dorcas); this woman was excelling in acts of kindness and charity which she did habitually. 37 But it happened at that time that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39 So Peter got ready and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the room upstairs; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a tanner named Simon
SUMMARY
Peter travels throughout the regions and comes down to Lydda. He finds a bedridden man named Aeneas, heals him, and tells him to make his bed. Then in Joppa, a disciple named Tabitha. who was abounding in good deeds, had fallen sick and died. Peter made his way to Joppa after being told what had happened. He knelt down and prayed and told Tabitha to arise. She was healed and it became known all over and many believed in the Lord.
REFLECTION
Peter spent much of his time going from place to place and serving in the name of the Lord. I see how he depended on the Lord every step of the way especially as he knelt down in earnest prayer to heal Tabitha even though he had just healed Aeneas by simply telling him to get up. After each miracle, he used the opportunity to spread the gospel in the land.
When I see Peter humbling himself and being still before the Lord before asking Tabitha to arise, I realize that I need to earnestly ask the Lord for help before going into whatever it is I do. When things get busy, I forget to stop and have alone time with God before heading into work or ministry. When life gets busy, it's hard to sense that God is in this place with me in the midst of all the chaos and stress. I'm sure Peter was very busy performing miracles and spreading the truth of Jesus Christ. Yet he was so humble and never forgot to rely on the Lord.
I think about why it's so hard to ask God for wisdom even in the small things. When work and life gets busy, I fall back on self-reliance to get through it instead of humbling myself before God and doing His work His way.
APPLICATION
As I reflect on this passage, I want to be more reliant on God rather than lean on my own strength. I ask the Lord to make me more faithful in the small things even when life gets busy. I will ground myself in the Lord by being still before in Him in the secret place before I start my day.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for reminding me that you are the source of my strength. In times of stress and busyness, I pray that I will depend solely on you and still myself before you. Lord may I be like Peter who glorified you by humbly serving and pointing people to the cross. I pray that my heart will be pure and humble through the highs and the lows. You are so powerful in your miracles and I pray that I will use the miracles you've done in my own life to be a way of pointing people to the cross. I pray that I will seek you every day and that you will continue to pour out new revelation and a passion for your name. I pray all of this in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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