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Thursday, December 3, 2020

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


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!


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.



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