“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Acts 12:5
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
As I crossed the finish line of the Frisco Railroad Run 50-mile race on April 26, I immediately hugged my husband and began to cry over the goodness of God. For more than ten hours, I had been in silent prayer, asking the Lord repeatedly to give me the strength to keep going. This race wasn’t just a physical challenge—it was deeply spiritual. I had been feeling lukewarm in my prayer life, and I asked God to use this time to search my heart and reignite my discipline—both physically and spiritually.
“Lord,” I prayed before the race, “help me give an all-out effort today. Let the disciplining of my flesh renew the discipline of my spirit. Help me push myself with all that I have.”
And once again, the Lord proved Himself faithful. Not only did He strengthen me to finish the race, but He also answered my other prayers: cloud cover, cool temperatures, and a finish time faster than I expected—with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
But the most emotional moment came after I’d caught my breath and accepted my hard-earned buckle. My husband said, “You’re going to be so happy, honey—Dylan is getting baptized!”
“What? Are you kidding?” I asked, stunned.
“No,” he said, smiling. “It’s true.”
Tears filled my eyes again. “Praise the Lord for this answered prayer!”
We had been praying for our dear friend Dylan—an ultrarunner and brother in the sport—for years. His decision to follow Jesus reminded us that God answers prayer in His time, not ours. The next morning, Larry and I drove back to Springfield to witness his baptism for ourselves. As Dylan came up out of the water, heaven rejoiced—and so did we. Even more powerful? Nearly 30 others were baptized that morning, too!
Whether God answers immediately, like He did for Peter (Acts 12), or after years, like Hannah (1 Samuel 1), one thing is certain: We must never stop praying.
Today’s Challenge:
Reignite your prayer life. Choose one person or situation you’ve stopped praying for—or felt discouraged about—and lift it up again today with renewed faith.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that some prayers are answered quickly, while others take time, persistence, and unwavering faith. Help us to trust Your perfect timing and to never give up, especially when it comes to the salvation of those we love. Reignite our hearts to pray boldly and continually. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
Happy Running!
