A Prayer about the Joy of Believing

Has believing in Jesus brought you joy?

And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Acts 16:34

Wonder-Working God,

Help us to see ourselves in this Philippian jailer! 

Likely a Roman citizen, 

trained to bow down to the emperor (what did we bow down to before you?), 

he obeyed the order to unjustly imprison Paul and Silas, 

chaining them by their feet in the maximum security prison 

“to keep them safely” (Acts 16:23-24). 

We wonder, author God, did he sneer in contempt 

as Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to you (Acts 16:25)? 

And then, when you sent the earthquake, 

and the prison doors flew open, 

what terror he felt as he anticipated 

being sent to his death by his superiors 

for letting the prisoners escape. 

He drew his sword, 

prepared to take his own life 

rather than to endure the beating 

and death sentence to come. 

But Paul cried out, “We’re all here” (Acts 16:27-28). 

Why, God, was the jailer’s first response 

to fall down trembling with fear, 

and asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). 

Oh, Lord, may the jailer’s response 

remind us of seasons 

when we desperately needed to know 

what we must do to be saved. 

May the jailer’s response remind us 

of how you invited us, 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved….” (Acts 16:31). 

And then, as we remember your mercy and grace, 

how you saved us out of a desperate time, 

may we join the jailer in rejoicing 

(even though he might have lost his job 

for taking prisoners into his home), 

rejoicing that by your grace, 

we have believed in you! 

What great good news this is, 

today and every day!

Amen. 

Read Acts 16:23-34