More From Linawati Santoso

Acts 3:1-10 tells the story of Peter healing a beggar. At the temple gate called Beautiful laid a man who was lame from birth. I wonder if he had said to himself, “I’ve never been able to walk. It would be ridiculous if I could jump.” Perhaps that’s why on the day he met Peter and John, he didn’t say, “Please pray to God that I may be healed,” but rather he asked them for money. Instead of giving the man money, Peter gave him what he never thought he could have. He told the man to walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Immediately the man jumped to his feet and began to walk.

What made the man who had never walked since his birth immediately walk, and even jump? That’s right, the power of the name of Christ Jesus! The same power we have to restore our bad situations. As children of God, we have power in Christ Jesus’ name. And it is important that we pray like never before. As I wrote in my devotional, praying like never before is not a matter of praying with your eyes open or closed, or praying while sitting or standing. Praying like never before means we should pray with full trust in God. Not focusing on our overwhelming situation, but on our God who has the power to change every situation.

As I write this blog I remember Hannah, who prayed like never before. Scripture tells us that Hannah had no children because the Lord had closed her womb. In her distress she prayed to God, believing that God could change her situation. While in Shiloh, Hannah prayed earnestly. She prayed in her heart, and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. At first, the priest Eli thought Hannah was drunk. But after Hannah explained that she was pouring out her soul to the Lord, Eli realized that she was praying like never before. So he answered her: “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” In time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Samuel. (See 1 Sam. 1:1-20.) And in 1 Samuel 2:21, we read that Hannah even had more children, giving birth to three sons and two daughters.

Now my family’s situation have not yet changed. We still don’t have our own home, my brother hasn’t recovered from mental illness, and sometimes we face financial difficulties. But I always remind myself: not yet changed doesn’t mean the situation will never change. Every day I keep praying to the Lord, praying like never before. Scripture says, “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23, NIV). Yes, I believe one day God will change my family’s situation into good.

God bless us.