This is from the Public Domain version of the much beloved devotional Streams In The Desert, entry dated 12/30.
Streams in the Desert is a favorite devotional. This entry so resonated with me that I had to post it ASAP.
Does a hated job situation feel like an iron gate blocking your joy? Do you feel like a caged bird beating against the bars, but instead of helping, you have only fallen back tired, exhausted and sore at heart? Then this devotional will certainly give you great comfort. You can be assured that God knows and He hears your prayer. Have faith.
Believing Prayer
Peter was kept in prison: but prayer [instant and earnest prayer] was made for him – Acts 12:5
Peter was in prison awaiting his execution. The Church had neither human power nor influence to save him. There was no earthly help, but there was help to be obtained by the way of Heaven. They gave themselves to fervent, importunate prayer. God sent His angel, who aroused Peter from sleep and led him out through the first and second wards of the prison; and when they came to the iron gate, it opened to them of its own accord, and Peter was free.
There may be some iron gate in your life that has blocked your way. Like a caged bird you have often beaten against the bars, but instead of helping, you have only had to fall back tired, exhausted and sore at heart. There is a secret for you to learn, and that is believing prayer; and when you come to the iron gate, it will open of its own accord. How much wasted energy and sore disappointment will be saved if you will learn to pray as did the Church in the upper room! Insurmountable difficulties will disappear; adverse circumstances will prove favorable if you learn to pray, not with your own faith but with the faith of God (Mark 11:22, margin). Souls in prison have been waiting for years for the gate to open; loved ones out of Christ, bound by Satan, will be set free when you pray till you definitely believe God. —C. H. P.
Prayer:
Oh Father God! Give me Your faith. Give me Your Faith! Father, my soul has been in prison for years slowly rotting away, slowly dying a painful death. Oh Jesus please, Open The Gate! I want to be set free. I pray also for everyone who is in a hated job situation. All those who dread the drudgery, who can no longer bear the anguish, who feel totally stuck. God, I pray that You would comfort and strengthen each of them. Give them Your faith to pray for freedom and for a job they love. Give me Your faith to pray for each of Your beloved children that find an iron gate blocking their way. Oh Jesus, set us free! Set us free now! And like Job, after we have prayed for our friends, restore our fortunes with a loved job doing what You put in our hearts to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
