How can we apply Peter's example of prayer before action in our lives? Setting the Scene Acts 9 records Peter being summoned to Joppa after faithful disciple Tabitha (Dorcas) dies. Verse 40 captures his pivotal response: “Peter sent them all outside, and he knelt down and prayed. Turning toward the body, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up!’ And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.” Before speaking life-giving words, Peter first spoke to God. His prayer precedes his action, modeling a rhythm we can mirror. Peter's Pattern: Prayer Before Power • Separation: “sent them all outside” – removes distraction and the pull of human pressure. • Posture: “knelt down” – outward humility reflecting inward submission. • Petition: “prayed” – aligns with God’s will, not self-confidence. • Pronouncement: only after communion with God does he command, “Tabitha, get up!” Timeless Principles We Can Adopt 1. Seek God’s counsel first. Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” 2. Remove noise. Matthew 6:6—“Go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father…” 3. Assume humility. James 4:10—“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” 4. Act in faith once directed. James 2:17—faith shows itself active, never passive. Practical Steps for Everyday Life • Start decisions on your knees—literally or figuratively—before opening your calendar, replying to that email, or confronting conflict. • Schedule “quiet rooms” during the day: phones silenced, notifications off, even if for five minutes. • Pray Scripture back to God—Psalm 25:4-5 is a simple example—so your requests stay aligned with His revealed will. • Keep a journal: record the prayer, the sensed leading, and the subsequent action; note how God answers to build future faith. • Teach this rhythm to family: pause together before meals, trips, or major choices, modeling dependence for the next generation. Encouragement to Start Today Peter was an ordinary man whose strength lay in extraordinary dependence. By inserting prayer between need and deed—big or small—we invite the same power that raised Tabitha and, ultimately, Christ Himself (Romans 8:11) to work through us. Begin with your next decision, however routine, and watch God turn humble petitions into fruitful action. |
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