Day Seventy-four

Continuing our study of the church in Acts, let’s look closely at the following two verses: 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (Acts 4:31).

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up (Acts 9:40).

What were the people of God doing prior to the meeting place being shaken?  What were they doing prior to being filled with the Holy Spirit?  What were they doing prior to speaking God’s Word boldly?  What was Peter doing prior to bringing Tabitha back from the dead?

You guessed it.  They were PRAYING! 

Prayer precedes the miracle.  Prayer precedes a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit.  Prayer precedes boldly proclaiming God’s Word.  Prayer is the precursor.  It is that which lights the spark—it gets the fire going.  It’s the weeks of rehearsals leading up to the big performance; it's the day-in, day-out training before a race.  It takes effort, discipline, sacrifice, diligence… but it is worth all that results from it. 

Dear sister, let’s lay the groundwork for a fireworks show that Thunder over Louisville will pale to in comparison!  Let’s get that spark lit and kindling ready for a consuming fire.

Dear Father,

You are the Great I AM.  You are the All Powerful Maker of Heaven and Earth!  You are the Consuming Fire.  We pray for your Holy Spirit to come down upon Priscilla, Kay and Beth in power and might.  Consume them with Your presence.  Enable them to speak boldly and with authority.  Infuse them with courage so that they are able to declare Your Word fearlessly.  When they open their mouths, may You speak through them so passionately and powerfully that we are mesmerized and beholden by Your Word. 

Please let the aroma of our prayers precede the miracle of life change on June10-11.   Just as Peter prayed to bring Tabitha back to life, we ask for You to bring back to life the women who are dead in their sins.  Your Word says to ask anything in Your name and You will do it.  We are asking, Lord.  Make a way where there seems to be no way.  Turn the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs. In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for You, God (Isa. 40:3).  Lord, have compassion on these women and lead them beside springs of water (Isa. 49:10).  Do a new thing in their lives!  Make a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Lord, you are in the miracle-making business.  Do it, Lord.  Just do it. 

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray,
Amen.