Powerful in Prayer

Peter and John were arrested for healing a man who could not walk and then telling everyone about Jesus: the source of his healing.  The next morning, they were warned not to talk about Jesus again.  Then they were released.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. (Acts 4:23-24a NIV)

They refused to stop talking about Jesus.  They returned to the Church.  They told the people what God had done.  Then, they turned to God in prayer.

"Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:24b-30 NIV)

Take a look at that prayer again.  They didn’t ask for God to make their lives easier.  They didn’t ask God to heal them, provide riches for them, or to stop the people who are threatening them.  Instead, they asked God to strengthen them.  They asked God to “enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”  They wanted to have the strength to not back down.  They wanted to be faithful witnesses, no matter the circumstances.  They asked God to help them live out God’s will for our lives.  They asked God to help them be powerful witnesses…and God answered, “Yes.”

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 NIV)

How about you?  Do you ask God to help you speak God’s word boldly?  Do you ask God to give you the wisdom and strength to speak to others about Him?  Do your prayers ask God to help you be His witnesses?  Are you powerful in prayer?