musical chairs.

“So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.” Acts 12:5

Most of us have played a game of musical chairs. The rules are pretty basic: music plays, and everyone walks or dances in a circle around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone must sit in a seat. The one without a chair is out, and can't move forward to the next round.

Usually, this game is pretty competitive. As soon as the music stops, everyone is spurred to action. People are fighting for a chair, pushing and shoving those around them. They're desperate for a seat, so that they won't get out.

In Acts 12, Peter was imprisoned, and the Church began to pray fervently on his behalf. Peter's state spurred them to action. They were desperate enough to see things change, so they fought in prayer, and their prayers significantly affected the situation.

If only the Church today would have the same faith and fervency in prayer! Too often we are still dancing around the chairs in silence instead of desperately fighting for a seat. However, we have an active enemy who is seeking to devour us, and that alone should spur us to action.

Are we desperate enough to see circumstances change? Do we deeply desire the hand of God to move? If so, then we should be diligent and earnest in prayer.

I myself am often lacking fervor in my prayers. I need to be more devoted to constant prayer and petition on behalf of my brothers and sisters, as the early Church was on behalf of Peter. As Samuel said, “...far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you...” (1 Samuel 12:23). For where there is little prayer, there is little power.

Ephesians 6:18

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”