HAND OF THE WICKED
Acts 12:1-19
 
It is worthy to rise early in the day and pray: Father, deliver me from every hand of the wicked that has been stretched in my direction, to harass me. The Bible recorded in Acts 12:1-2, “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” The hand of Herod that went out against James, took the life of James. It was the same hand that was released in direction of Peter attempting to kill Peter, “So when he had arrested him, he put him in a prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.” (Acts 12:4) Herod had bad intentions for Peter. What is it that has bad intentions for your life? Are there any bad intentions against in your life? Ask God that every bad intention that is being set against you, in all areas of your life, God will put it into a permanent termination. Without doubt Peter was set for the same occurrence that took away James’ life. Unlike when Paul and Silas were kept in the prison, praying and praising God, Peter was busy sleeping. There was no way of escape for Peter, but God responded at the eleventh hour. Peter was about to be brought to Herod, when God sent for His delivering angel for Peter’s escape. While Peter was being taken through the escape route by the hand of God’s angel, Peter, “…Did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.” (Acts 12:9) When it is your time of deliverance from the hand of the wicked one, your story of escape will be sweeter than that of Peter’s. Peter thought he was having a vision, his story was like that of the children of Israel coming out of captivity. Psalm 126, “When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”” If you desire your escape, it will be deposited to you just like He did for Peter and the children of Israel. Peter could not have escaped through sleeping, but thank God that while he was in prison, “…Constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” (Acts 12:5) Do you belong to any prayer group? Prayer is the way of communicating with God, and it is what will bring the hand of God against the hand of the wicked, like that of king Herod. 

Prayer for today: My Lord, and my God, I ask this day for Your great delivering hand against every representation of Herod’s intentions for my life, let them be terminated O Lord, my God.