The Impact of a Whisper

 

When we behold the One at last

On Whom we cast our cares

Then we will stand where Time is past

and thus our need for prayers

Did You Think To Pray Charlie Pride

Years ago I was at a Charlie Pride Concert.

When he asked for favorites someone requested this song.

He couldn't completely remember it so he asked for the help

of the audience and we sang this song together.

We’ll never know how far they go 

Who they will touch, or where 

Or ever see entirely 

The impact of a prayer 

With trust we plead for humble need 

For love like He portrayed 

For faith, not fear to commandeer 

And be doubt’s barricade 

We pray for those who never chose 

To serve Christ as their Lord 

Oh, how we pray in case today 

Death seals Choice’s reward 

We pray for eyes to realize 

More than first glance can prove 

For strength and health and want for wealth 

Of treasures stored above 

We lift to Him the hearts that brim 

With sorrow and despair 

We ask God for hope to restore 

Joy in spite of life’s care 

We pray for the sick and those quick

To scorn Hope's Only Way

We pray for the poor who need more

From we with more than they

We pray for grace to help us face 

The enemy of God 

To help us bear another’s care 

And thus fulfill love’s law 

The warpath of faith, hope and love

Is stained with suffering

Where warriors wept while Mercy kept

Them sheltered 'neath His wing

We pray that He would help us be

A reflection of Him

And not put first desires cursed

With selfish wish and whim

We whisper pleas to He who sees

Each hard and hidden part

Where groaning bleeds He intercedes

For He beholds the heart

We pray, for oh we’ll never know 

Who they will touch, when, where 

Or see in full the miracle 

That always starts with prayer 

© Janet Martin 

One among many examples of the miracles wrought through prayer!

Acts 12:1-19

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. 

Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. 

It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. 

When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches 

and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

15“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. 

When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, 

and then he left for another place.

18In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him,

 he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.