Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

Lord God my Father,

Your design is perfect and your way is all powerful. Help me to find joy in all struggles for the strength it will bring and the wisdom I will learn. Bring my body and spirit into a balance so your way is natural in my thoughts and actions. Keep me from placing my perspective over yours.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 

When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.

 “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Lord God my Father,

You are my protector and creator. Protect me from the darkness I walk through every day and keep your light on my path. Keep me strong in my delight and your Truth, may your Joy be seen by those around me. Help me to see the faith in others so our strength can grow and prepare me for the hardship that is before me so your delivery reveals your Glory.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 

Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

 “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

Lord God my Father,

You are in control of all things, I ask for you to bring a Peace to my thoughts so I may hear you clearly. Quiet my mind so I may be obedient to your commands without thinking my way out. Make your message natural in my life so others can see your Truth. Keep me from fear so I trust your plan without compromise. Show me your way and make me obedient to it. Reveal your Truth through all of me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 

“This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.

That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. 

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Lord God my Father,

You control all things. I ask you to show me how to check my emotions and not follow them but have them follow you. Connect me to the Holy Spirit living in me so your control is stronger than my desire. Bring a Peace in me that opens my eyes to your plan that is beyond my understanding. Keep me from seeing the limits of this world and allowing fear to hold you back in all struggles so wisdom and strength can come to me without my distracting emotions creating a storm in my thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Lord God my Father,

You are creator and sustainer, you know all things and in Jesus I am saved. Give me strength to keep your way in my heart and actions no matter the attacks around me. Protect and amplify your spirit within me. Keep me from fear of attack for the Truth I carry in your name. Show yourself in my actions and expressions.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 

“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 

When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Lord God my Father,

Give me your spirit, your confidence, your Peace. Restore me to your desire and use me for your will. Keep me from my sinful way and help me to leave my past so I may live in your light and share it freely with others.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’

 “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Lord God my Father,

Your plan is beyond my understanding, yet perfect. Help me to believe to the point I have no doubt. Proof of you is everywhere I rest my eyes, you are in everything, help me to see more of you and less of my desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Lord God my Father,

You are greater than all creation and with you all things are possible. Help me to remove the limits I put on your authority that lives in me. Show me how to reach the world as you desire and make a path to you for the lost to follow. Give me faith as you designed it and protect me from the deceiver that distracts me. Help me to believe.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 

“You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to fin your heart without judgment and believe without listening to doubt. Help me to take you at your word and not question but believe and to see the falsehood that is abundant around me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.”

“You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from the influence of the deceiver and keep me in your authority. Give me a heart that craves your Peace only. Keep me from searching from my perspective and allow your perspective to rest on me. Your freedom is beyond understanding, so help me to stop trying understand but allow it. Protect me from the emotions of the crowd and show me how to place quiet boundaries to protect your Peace within me. Open my eyes to see more of your wonder in all my eyes fall on.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen