So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?
Lord God my Father,
Direct me to be free of the past so I may live today with confidence and peace under your authority. Help me to release all desires that conflict with your will. Restore me to your design and past my poor thoughts.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 5All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16to reveal his Son to me1:16a Or in me. so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.
Even that question came up only because of some so-called believers there—false ones, really2:4 Greek some false brothers.—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.
You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.
But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.
Lord God my Father,
Thank you for your son and the promise he brings through my faith. Thank you for using me for your desire, help me to surrender the strongholds I carry to your care and give me the courage to face them. Keep my thoughts close so I may hear deceit before it can rest on me. Help my faith to be complete and my sin nature to be replaced with your Peace.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders12:11 Or the Jewish people. had planned to do to me!”
Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?
But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.
Lord God my Father,
You are always here, help me to rely on you, protect me from distractions. Give me discernment to know your Truth above all else and keep me in your desire when I don’t understand. Keep me close.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.
This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
Lord God my Father,
Keep my thoughts pure and filled with your hope. Help me to carry the good news in such a way others will desire it. Help me to be in prayer in all things.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7Many evil8:7 Greek unclean. spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims.
As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit.
You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts,
The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers9:13 Greek God’s holy people; also in 9:32, 41. in Jerusalem! 14And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
Lord God my Father,
Fill me with your words, use me as you desire. Help me to live in such a way that others desire to know you. Make my heart rite and direct my path. Give me boldness under your authority.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
God also gave Joseph unusual wisdom,
Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.
So they made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed to it and celebrated over this thing they had made.
“You stubborn people! You are heathen7:51 Greek uncircumcised. at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute!
He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Lord God my Father,
Allow your wisdom to rest on me, keep me from assuming your plan and just be obedient. Keep me from false worship and allow your Peace to be my compas.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,3:6a Or Jesus Christ of Nazareth. get up and3:6b Some manuscripts do not include get up and. walk!”
7Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.
“People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? 13For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this.
When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.”
“In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
“How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 10Instantly, she fell to the floor and died.
The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.5:41 Greek for the name.
Lord God my Father,
Groom me with your spirit to honor you and share you at your desire. Allow me to share your Truth in your name and open the hearts of those I meet to be drawn to you. Cause people to not see me but see you and turn from our sinful ways. Help us to see our selfish ways and turn from them. Allow your strength to defeat the evil around us, may we suffer for you alone.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit.
They all met together and were constantly united in prayer,
‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 26No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.
Lord God my Father,
Allow me to be used for your desire. Help me to witness well your delight. Allow your spirit to become powerful over my desires and help the hope you bring to me to be made available to those around me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.
“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?
As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
Lord God my Father,
Give me a heart that believes without doubt and open my eyes to your desire no matter how it rest on me. Keep me from fear and doubt. Allow me to see you in all things and follow you with an open mind.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
The next day, on the Sabbath,27:62 Or On the next day, which is after the Preparation. the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate.
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.
Then they remembered that he had said this.
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look.
for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.
“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!”
A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’
Lord God my Father,
Make me aware of those who don’t believe the words they speak. Keep me from fear that holds back your desire and help me live in confidence with your teachings even if they sound unbelievable from my limited understanding. Help me to understand your desire for me without question and protect me from falling to temptation.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen