Never underestimate the power of prayer that is mixed with faith and a confident expectation that whatever we are believing for shall come to pass.  This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. (1John 5:4)

“The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”  (James 5:16 AMPC)

How many of us still get surprised when our prayers get answered?  I still do.  But, I believe we are being invited to shift our mindset into this joyful anticipation of answered prayers.  Yes, we may be surprised at God’s ever-astonishing-amazing way of manifesting, but our expectation should be at a higher level that when we know that He heard us when we prayed, then we have a done-deal answer.

 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us:  And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.”  (1 John 5:14-15)

I so love this story of Peter when he was imprisoned as Herod the king laid hands on those who belonged to the church.  Not only was he locked up but four squads of soldiers were assigned to guard him.

As Peter was kept in prison, earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church (Acts 12:5). 

“Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.  And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”  And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.   When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.  When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” (Acts 12:6-11)

When Peter realized that he was supernaturally freed from Prison, he directly went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, where many were gathered together and were praying.

Now, this for me is the most interesting part!  Peter knocked at the door of the gateway and Rhoda, a servant, went to answer.  At her amazement upon hearing and recognizing Peter’s voice, IN HER JOY she went back inside without opening the gate and reported to the prayer warriors.

Guess how they responded?  “You are out of your mind.”  When she kept insisting, they kept telling to her, “It is his angel.”  (Acts 12:15)

In the meantime, Peter continued knocking and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.

Yes, we are learning day in and day out as we keep meditating His Word.  Prayers are not just a religious ritual to do when we are in need.  We are to put weight and consider it powerful and effective with an expectation for manifested answers.

Someone shared with me her story about her family’s trip airline booking.  She booked a one-stop morning return flight because it was cheaper.  But, she was praying that there would be changes anytime before the said trip.

Lo and behold, a week later she indeed received an airline notice that their flight was cancelled and that she needed to choose another flight.  Yes, she got her initially desired flight, a more expensive, an evening and a non-stop one at no extra cost.  Praise the Lord!  And, her expression was, “UNBELIEVABLE!”

Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

As we come to know Jesus more and more, we become more like Him.  Our constant pursuit of knowing Him is what makes us aware of who God created us to be, and that is in THEIR (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) image and according to THEIR likeness (Genesis 1:26)

Nowhere in the scripture do we see Jesus being surprised by the immediate manifestation of His spoken word.  He spoke and He saw!  Just like in the beginning, God said, “Let there be light, and there was light!” (Genesis 1:3)  He is that same yesterday, today and forever.   When we believe, surely a confident expectation within us shall arise and we shall see.

Faith indeed is our intimate knowledge and fellowship with God as we move from a place of knowing Him to a place of moving with Him and moving like Him.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for always inviting us to know You more and more in Your written and revealed Word in the very Person of Your only Begotten and Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.  Lord Jesus, thank You for showing us what it means to live and move and have our being in You.  We may still be far from being like You, but we are grateful to be far from where we once were.  When we allow our roots to grow deep in You and draw nourishment from You alone, every part of us is molded and transformed into Your likeness.   Thank You, Holy Spirit, for continually revealing Jesus to us.  Your revelations poured in us make us effective and fruitful in our knowledge of Lord Jesus and be a reflection of Who He is in this world.  Amen!