“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, NIV84)

Peter and John had just been released from prison and all the believers gathered in “one mind” to pray for the leaders of this new church and for its purpose and direction. Note how vital prayer was to their everyday life. As they finished their prayer, the Lord provided them an immediate response. The building they were in began to shake, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to boldly proclaim the word of God. As you read the book of Acts, you can’t help but notice the connection between praying and the Holy Spirit. It seems as though prayer aligns us with the will of God and opens the door for the Holy Spirit to freely work through us. From the eyes of sight, these disciples had to be shaking in their boots (sandals) wondering what joining the Christian church would do to them. But as they prayed, their eyes of faith found the clarity to know and understand that God was working His will in and through their lives, and God proved it by indwelling them with the Holy Spirit and empowering them to preach with boldness.

I sense in my life that I need to be praying more for God to grant me eyes of faith to see His will, rather than praying that He work my will in my life. I desire to have a heart in which the Spirit of God can dwell and empower me to serve Him with boldness. No matter what the circumstances, may I cling to God’s Word and open my heart to His Holy Spirit. Today, if you feel the same way, may we join together in this prayer, and may we be filled daily with the Holy Spirit!

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church