How Do We Pray?

Read Acts 3:1-4:31

            One of the privileges of churches is to pray for one another. It’s been a good way to connect during this quarantine – when we lift each up to our heavenly Father, we draw closer to together. But how do we pray? What do we pray for?

            In the early church, prayer was vital. Peter and John speak to a crippled man and give him healing in Jesus’ Name.  When he speaks to the crowd that gathers, he and John are arrested. The Sanhedrin, the governing body of the Jews, doesn’t know what to do with them. After threatening them, they release them.

            Joining the group of believers, they pray. You might think they would pray for God to protect them from those that threatened them or at least give them safety.

            But this is their prayer:           

                 ^“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.”

            They basically ask God to put them in the firing line!

            And what is the immediate result?

            “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.”

            God shows His presence and answers their request.

            Do we dare to pray this way for each other?