January 28, 2020: SOAP #3708:  Exodus 21-22; Psalm 12; Acts 4
After they prayed… (from October 15, 2011.  I do not like to repeat, but God is speaking to me through this earlier SOAP.  May God use it in your life too!)

Scripture:  Acts 4:31 NIV After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Observation:    Sometimes we want God to work before we pray.  But the move of God came AFTER they prayed.  And it was not just that they prayed, but it is good to note how they prayed.  They acknowledged God’s sovereignty and that the worst man could do to Jesus only worked for the furtherance of God’s will.  They acknowledged the threats against them, but only asked for boldness to speak His word.  They did not ask for an easy life without pain or suffering.  Finally, they asked for God to do things in the name of Jesus, for His glory.

Application:    Sometimes in prayer I am so taken up with what I want that I forget there may be something He wants.  I usually have a plan on how God could work out my problem, but surely, He already has a plan.  In prayer I should agree that His plan is obviously better than mine and I should surrender myself to be a part of His plan.

Prayer:   Lord, you are so much wiser than I am.  To first stop to pray and let you take the lead allows me to move in your wisdom.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!