So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. (Acts 12:5 ESV)
Prayer
A few months ago, due to a tragic garage door incident, I lost the use of the four fingers of my right hand. I learned how important fingers are. Without them, many of my daily activities became extremely difficult. I could not button buttons. I could not tie shoelaces. I could not type on a keyboard. I could not grip a steering wheel. I could not adjust a rearview mirror. I could not reshelve books. I could not the right nostril of my nose.
Of course, I really COULD do those things. But the tasks were much more difficult, painful, and slow.
Maybe I think of prayer as I thought of my fingers.
I can do a lot of things without it. But those things are more difficult, painful, and slow.
I had been taking my fingers for granted before the garage door incident. Perhaps Peter took prayer for granted before the prison incident.
Prayer is not merely the most powerful weapon in a Christian’s arsenal. It is also necessary. It is also a blessing. It is also, rather than a chore, something that we GET to do.
And God hears us when we pray. Because of Christ’s work in our lives, God hears us as His children.
We are peculiar, we get to pray.