The Importance of Prayer: Approaching the Throne of GraceSample

The Power of Prayer

Read: Luke 8:40–42, 49–56; Acts 9:36–43

SOAP: Acts 9:40

But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Into the text

Peter showed great faith when he went in to see Tabitha, a faithful Christian who had died. The events surrounding Tabitha’s death are described in a very similar way to Jairus’ daughter’s story in Luke 8. Both Jairus’ daughter and Tabitha had already died. Both events had drawn a large crowd of mourners. In both cases, the crowd was sent out of the room. Since Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, the similarities are likely not a coincidence.

Peter witnessed the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter. He watched as Jesus raised her from the dead. Peter saw Jesus do many more miracles than this, but this time, he was the one who needed to exercise great faith. Peter knelt and prayed. Before attempting to raise Tabitha to life, he sought the only One who had power over death. Then, he used the same words Jesus’ used to raise Jairus’ daughter: “Get up!”

Peter did not rely on his strength for a miracle. He sought Jesus in prayer. He knew what the resurrection power of Jesus could do, and he believed that the same power was present in him through the Holy Spirit.

We may not have the privilege of watching Jesus perform miracles in front of us, but we have the privilege of looking back on God’s faithfulness. We can be confident in God’s faithfulness to answer prayer today because He has answered us in the past. He has raised our dead hearts to life. He has reconciled relationships. He has healed bodies. He has changed hearts. He has provided jobs. He has opened wombs. And He can do it again.

He still does miracles today. We can wait in expectation for Him to do the impossible yet again.

Prayer

Father God, You are the God of my impossible. Lord, come into the areas of my life where I have lost hope and lost faith. Lord, demonstrate Your mighty power and faithfulness to resurrect the broken and failed things in my life so You may be glorified. Help me peacefully let go of anything that is not in Your will for me to have. In Jesus’ name, amen.