“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”

So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.

 As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison

There they met with the believers and encouraged them once more. Then they left town.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to keep my faith simple and not overthink your Truth. Give me strength every day to grow closer to your plan. Open my heart and give me discernment over false teaching and use me to encourage others.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.

And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.”

So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

Lord God my Father,

Soften my heart to only be directed by you, remove my selfishness. Protect me from my own temptation and selfishness and remove it from me. Give me determination to only move in your desire. Allow your Peaceful Truth to test well and temper me to your plan. Help me to find obedience.

in Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“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? 

Lord God my Father,

Allow your Truth to rest on my so I may turn from my evil nature and live in yours.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers

“Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 

Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to not question your desire for me, make me obedient. Help me to accept your plan, a plan beyond understanding. Open my eyes so I may see and believe.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.

“So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’

No, you carried your pagan gods—the shrine of Molech, the star of your god Rephan, and the images you made to worship them. So I will send you into exile as far away as Babylon.’

“You stubborn people! You are heathen7:51 Greek uncircumcised. at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? 

Lord God my Father,

Help me to carry your wisdom as I meet others and protect me from my plan. Help me to sand firm in your plan. Keep me from turning to any other God and keep your place in my thoughts. Protect me from arrogance.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? 

So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?26The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.

 “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? 

“We must obey God rather than any human authority.

“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

Lord God my Father,

Use me, fill me with your spirit and wisdom. Give me courage to boldly do your will and not be quiet in the face of evil desire. Allow you Peace to rest well on me and others who believe and not waste my time on worthless discussion. Keep me from testing you but to simply be obedient to your Truth.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. 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!”

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

Lord God my Father,

Use me as a witness of your transforming power. Help me to use my brothers and sisters to keep in your plan together. Help me to call on the name of your son to restore me and inspire others. I turn from my sin nature and to your Loving Grace.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16But God kept them from recognizing him.

But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, 

 “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?”

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 

‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’

 “Mary!” Jesus said.

 “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to have a faith that accepts you without condition. Open my heart to take in your plan without the need to know it. Open my mind to your will and protect it from the deceiver. I repent of my past sin, take it so I may be clean and give me strength to avoid compromise. Lord God, allow me to hear you call my name and know you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”43And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. 

Lord God my Father,

Even the lost know you, use me as you wish to spread your Truth and use your Truth to guide my thoughts. Help me to not hide in the shadows and give me courage to live your desire.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”27:6 Greek since it is the price for blood.

Two revolutionaries27:38 Or criminals; also in 27:44. were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 

Lord God my Father,

Expose evils as it lives around me. Keep me in your Truth and protect me from slipping, May your justice be enough. Show us the heart of our leaders.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen