Fervent Prayer: Ripple Effects of Addiction and Prayer
“About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” Acts 12:3-5
Acts 12:1-19 shows us the struggle that Peter experienced while he was arrested. Peter was seized, imprisoned, and held in chains, and restrained by squads of soldiers. As I read the scripture, I love how verse five says…
5“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church”
Chapter 12:1-19 describes how Peter was imprisoned, physically trapped & powerless, and what seemed to be in a hopeless situation. “But earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church” The Church came together to pray and fast. Verses, 7 – 17 tells us how the power of earnest prayer caused the impossible of the supernatural power of God cause the chains of bondage from Peter to fall.
This is what I mean by the ripple effects of Prayer and Addiction. You see, addiction not only affects the person addicted, it also affects their family, friends, church, their entire lives, in other words it's makes a ripple effect! But so is with prayer, the power of praying believers can make incredible ripples in the heavenly realm; as the church earnestly prays for our addicted.
Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite with the addicted, we often isolate ourselves from them, we consider them lesser than us, they become outcast, we give up on them. But even worse, we may not even think that the power of our earnest prayers can make an impact on their lives as far as them being delivered from the chains, bondage and their imprisonment from their addiction. The Church prayed and fasted for Peter and God delivered him from what seemed to be an impossible and hopeless situation.
Let us not give up praying earnestly for those who are struggling from the chains and bondage of addiction, God has the power to deliver them from the negative ripple effects of addiction and convert them to God glorifying ripple effects that can even help others.
Lord, you are our deliverer. We can do anything through Christ who strengthens us…but, we must take the first step. We must realize we have a problem and a need… and we must ask for help. Lord I ask, that you will give each person the courage to face up to their problems and to have a strong desire to change.
Father, remove the influences that hinder the addicted from coming clean and who perpetuate their addictions. We ask in Jesus’ name, that you will protect them from the world and the enemy, protect them from themselves and from the things that keep dragging them down. Father, I know many self medicate so they won’t have to deal with the pain in their life. I pray that you will give them the courage and strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to face down their demons and hurts… and to clean out the wounds once and for all, so they can be free to be the person that you’ve called them to be…to be free from the sickness and pain that keeps them in bondage.
We ask for healing in families and relationships that are being torn apart by the destructive ripple effects of addiction. We ask for protection for those family members that are in harm’s way because of their loved one’s addictions. Please pour out your grace, mercy and healing power on each person that are under the chains of addiction or have been affected by someone with an addiction.
Amen
Helping an addict through recovery can seem overwhelming, but they don’t have to do it alone. Mercy Hill Celebrate Recovery in Bayview (a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain or addiction of any kind), we meet every Monday night at 6:30pm You can browse the resources at https://cr.mercyhill.org or contact us at (414) 755-6772 or email us at cr@mercyhill.org.