DAY 12: BRING EVERY SITUATION TO GOD

The first thing we should do when we have a problem or a need, is to turn it over to God—not as our last chance, but as our first choice!

A perfect example of this can be found in Acts chapter four which describes a scene following Christ’s Resurrection when Peter and John were arrested and put on trial for preaching the Gospel. They were threatened, within an inch of their lives, by the same angry crowd that had crucified Jesus. Finally they were released, but only after being sternly warned “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” Those who opposed Christ figured the only way to stop the Gospel was to shut up those who were preaching it.

In light of the threats against them, do you know what Peter and John did? They prayed. They gathered with fellow believers and prayed these words, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your Word with all boldness” (4:29). Instead of panicking, instead of fretting, they immediately handed over their problem to the Lord.

Isn’t it interesting that they didn’t pray for safety or protection against these threats? Because they trusted God completely they were able to say, “Lord, here is an impossible situation. Here are these threats against us. We trust you to help us.” I especially love the end of verse 29 that says: “and grant to Your servants boldness to continue speaking Your word!” These men had no intention of giving up and giving in to defeat!

But there is even more good news in this story. As Peter and John lifted their prayers to the Lord, the place in which they were gathered began to shake! (4:31) It was revival power moving! It was God moving! Revival happens when God shows up in our midst.

What happened in this visible, physical manifestation of God needs to happen to us spiritually. Some of us need to be shaken! And when we pray and surrender our lives to the Lord, we can be sure that He will shake us and stir us, waking us from our lethargy and our lukewarmness. When we bring every situation before the Lord in prayer, He will hear our cries and respond with heavenly power.