Earnest Prayer Gets Results

Baptist Daily Devotional
Jul 5
2 min read

Rev. Tse Amable | July 5 2025 | Acts 12:3-5

KEY VERSE: “So Peter was kept in prison, BUT THE CHURCH WAS EARNESTLY PRAYING TO GOD FOR HIM.” Acts 12:3 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

After sitting aloof and doing nothing when James was killed, the Church finally woke up from her slumber and did what they could when King Herod moved to arrest Apostle Peter with the intention of killing him also. This time, the church decided to fight the enemy, not with physical and natural weapons, but with the spiritual and supernatural weapon of prayer. The Bible says, “fervent prayer for him was persistently made to God by the church” (Amplified).

Prayer is the Christian’s most potent weapon in his/her arsenal. After listing all the components of the Christian’s weapon of warfare, Apostle Paul added “And PRAY in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of PRAYERS and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). Throughout the centuries, saints of God have fought wars on their knees in prayer and won victories for themselves and the Kingdom of Heaven. A classic example of the power of prayer is the Prophet Elijah’s victory over the prophets of Baal. Commenting on Prophet Elijah’s story, Apostle James wrote, “the earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 AMP).

The hymn-writer got it right when he wrote: “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer”. You have a powerful weapon in persistent, effectual and fervent prayer. Use it at all times in your fight against Satan, and you will be victorious.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Is prayer your first point of call when you are in a crisis? There is personal prayer (when you pray alone) and corporate prayer (when you join your household of faith, church, Christian fellowship, family, etc., for prayer. How do you practise a balanced prayer life?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, I thank you for giving us the powerful weapon of prayer. Empower me to use this weapon Biblically at all times. Let me not be absent from prayer meetings at times set by our congregation or fellowship, and also from special prayer meetings called to address emergencies. Amen!

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 186: 2 Samuel 20 — Sheba’s Revolt

DAILY word study: EARNESTLY The word earnestly in Acts 12:5 comes from the Greek ektenōs, meaning “intensely,” “without ceasing,” or “with stretched-out effort.” It paints the image of something being extended to its fullest.

This word suggests a prayer that isn’t casual or convenient. It’s prayer that pulls you in deeply, marked by urgency, focus, and persistence. The early church didn't just whisper a few lines. They stretched themselves before God with unrelenting prayer. That's the kind of intercession that invites heaven’s intervention.

Reflect on this:

Are your prayers stretched-out or stressed-out? Let God find you praying with your whole heart, not just your words.