. . . and see what happens!

This morning I’m thinking of things that God could speak to me about, but instead just asked Him, “What do I need today?” This is what He gave me:

“On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.” (Quoting Psalm 2:1-2) Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ 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.”

Pray Scripture. There is no better way to pray in the will of God than to pray His Word back to Him. Use it to understand the world. Use it to see and express what people need, what God wants for them. Use it to make requests for myself.

These first Christians understood that the religious and political leaders of their time were just the same as those written about in the Old Testament. They were against God and against his Anointed One, then David, now Christ. Even though they didn’t pray it, they knew the rest of the passage: “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath. . . .”

Instead of being afraid of being arrested again, they realized the power of God. They knew that God planned the crucifixion of Jesus. They knew that through His death and resurrection they were set free from sin to serve God, who would never leave or forsake them. Instead of cowering in fear, they knew that God was with them and would go to bat for them. They knew it because they knew His Book, the promises in it, and the history behind what was now happening. All that went before served to instruct them in how to respond to current trials and persecution.

I’ve got a cold today, feel a bit wimpy, like retreating into the woodwork and hanging up a sign that says, “This too shall pass—I hope.” Despite my inclination to whine and the fact that my trials are nothing compared to theirs, God tells me to pray using Scripture. Hmm. Life could become much more interesting than plugged sinuses and a scratchy cough. I’m about to find out . . .