July 3, 2013 - Kicked In The Side

I don't know where you live, but we are expecting a lot of rain over the next few days in Georgia. Cool and rainy - how does that play into my plans to grill and swim? Not certain, but we will adapt. There is always a card game on the corner or a movie waiting to be viewed. I cannot complain as we have been through such a drought for a the past several years. As I read Acts 12 this morning, I really placed myself in Peter's story. I want to highlight a few of the verses: Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison (Acts 12:6-9) 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. 9 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. (NLT) If you read these verses again, Peter is totally in bondage. He was stripped and chained with layers of guards to make certain he was never to see freedom. Have you ever felt that way? I have! For many years I struggled so desperately with even the "happy holidays" as I knew I would over eat, feel guilty, and over eat for days to "comfort" myself. Can you say LAYERS of guards (days of self-indulgence) with no hope of escape. But don't you love the word SUDDENLY? I had to laugh at a few things: the angel had to kick Peter to awaken him, instruct him to get up and get dressed, and all the while Peter thinks it was a wild dream from over eating the meal prior. :) Peter was slow to realize what was fully happening - he missed the SUDDENLY of God. How many times have I done that? I wonder how I would respond...and I wonder if I would be sleeping that soundly while scantily clothed among layers of guards. Yes, if I was sleeping in peace. Right? You know that Peter was no stranger to calamity, so this may have been his norm. Remember I said I placed myself in his story? So many times God reached in to help me, but I never got it. I was "foggy" at best. I never came to the full realization that a way of FINAL escape really existed. When Peter arrived at the house of his friends, even they (although they were praying - that's a message in itself) were shocked to "see" the deliverance of the Lord. So many insights right here.... Let me just say this day, you can be free! I am praying that you connect with the TRUTH and walk out of whatever prison cell you find yourself in today and declare Galatians 5:1 over yourself. You may see layers of guards and chains but God sees SUDDENLY. That makes me smile! Re-read the passage and ask God to reveal His truth FOR YOU in His Word. It's there. Praying for all of us today that we will choose LIFE and follow the angel to our place of safety. PK