There is Abundant Joy When the Lord Answers Our Prayers

Baptist Daily Devotional
Jul 12
3 min read

Rev. Tse Amable | July 12 2025 | Acts 12:12-14

KEY VERSE: When she recognised Peter's voice, SHE WAS SO OVERJOYED SHE RAN BACK WITHOUT OPENING IT and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” Acts 12:14 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

One of the results of answered prayers is JOY – the kind of joy and excitement that makes a person behave as if he or she is not “mentally correct”. We observe this in the behaviour of Rhoda, the servant girl who went to answer when Peter arrived and knocked at the door. Instead of opening the door to let Peter in, her joy was so much that SHE RAN BACK TO ANNOUNCE THE ARRIVAL OF PETER WITHOUT OPENING THE DOOR FOR HIM. What the joy of answered prayer can do! May you receive that “crazy” joy when there is a breakthrough for you or your loved one.

The Lord Jesus Christ knew that answered prayer brings joy. In one of his teachings on prayer, he said “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye SHALL receive, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL” (John 16:24). What causes our joy to be complete is when we ask anything in the name of Jesus Christ and we receive it. The converse is also true: OUR JOY IS NOT COMPLETE WHEN WE FAIL TO ASK AND, AS A RESULT, WE DO NOT RECEIVE. Therefore, ask, and you shall receive, so that your joy may be full.

Another truth in our text is that it was also the sound of Peter’s voice which gave Rhoda such an unspeakable joy. Jesus Christ wants to talk to you in a very personal way. He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). As a believer in Jesus Christ, you are one of his sheep. He is your Shepherd. You must hear his voice so that you can follow him. Do not listen to the voice of Satan, a demon or even the voice of your own inner spirit. Hearing the voice of Jesus Christ will give you joy.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Have you ever experienced the joy of an answered prayer which resulted in a miraculous provision, healing, or deliverance from a Satanic attack? If you're lacking joy in your life, examine your relationship with the Lord. The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes joy, and in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11).

PRAYER:

Father, I thank you for the joy I have in you. Teach me to hear your voice so that I can follow you. I remind you of my prayers that have not been answered yet. Let me receive what I asked of you, so that my joy in you may be full and complete. I ask for this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 193: 1 Kings 3 - Solomon’s Wisdom

DAILY word study: OVERJOYED

The Greek word translated “overjoyed” in Acts 12:14 is chara (χαρά), which means deep gladness or delight. It is often used in the New Testament to describe the joy that comes from God’s presence, salvation, or divine intervention.

Rhoda’s chara was spontaneous and overflowing—it wasn’t planned or managed. It reflected how truly overwhelming answered prayer can be.

Let this word remind you: true joy is often uncontainable when God is at work.

Reflect on this:

When was the last time you were so full of joy that you forgot what you were supposed to do next?

What does that say about your trust in God’s ability to surprise you with answered prayers?