“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.” – Acts 9:40-42

Agnes Sanford relates how, as the young wife of an Episcopal minister, her child came down with a serious ear infection. It lasted for six weeks while she prayed fearfully and fruitlessly.

Then a neighboring minister called to see her husband and learned that the child was sick. Quite casually, though intently and in a businesslike manner, he prayed for the little boy, who immediately shut his eyes, lost his fever flush and went to sleep.

When the boy awoke, his fever was gone and his ears were well. Sanford remarks,

“The strange thing is that this did not immediately show me a new world. Instead, it perplexed me greatly. Why did God answer the minister’s prayers when He had not answered mine? I did not know that I myself blocked my own prayers, because of my lack of faith. 

Nor did I know that this [successful] prayer could not come from resentment and darkness and unhappiness, as a pipeline can be clogged with roots and dirt. This doubt and confusion remained in my mind, even though the child himself, whenever he subsequently had a bit of an earache, demanded that I pray for him.”

Our Lord loves to answer prayer. He is the author of miracles. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus that He answers prayer and sometimes those answers are miraculous!

“There are parts of our calling, works of the Holy Spirit, and defeats of the darkness that will come no other way than through furious, fervent, faith-filled, unceasing prayer.” - Beth Moore

God’s Word: “He went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.” – Mark 5:39-42

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.” – Acts 9:36

Leon L. Caviness wrote the following: “There was a rich young man who had a series of disappointments that made him feel that life was not worthwhile, as if he really had nothing left to live for. On his way to the river where he intended to end his life, a street urchin met him and begged for a little money to buy bread. The young man, seeing by the pinched face of the child that he was really hungry, said to himself, “I will see that this boy gets one good meal before I die.”

He took the boy to a good restaurant and ordered for him such a meal as he had never before seen in his life. As the young man saw the child eat, a strange feeling of joy crept into his own heart. Then he thought that if he were to commit suicide, the boy would soon again be as hungry as before.

So he decided that he would make it his business to see that that child always had enough to eat. The young man had found happiness, for he had something to live for-a human being he could help.”

The Lord has called us to both see and help the poor. Today in prayer, ask Jesus how you can better help the poor.

“When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus.” – Rose of Lima

God’s Word: “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” – Luke 14:13-14

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” – Acts 9:27

Doug Schaupp wrote: “Trust is sweet. It is better than gold. Trust is always a gift of the heart, and therefore it just may be the most precious thing in life, next to love. Trust between two people is so valuable and precious that it should never be taken for granted. Once a friend told me (Doug) that she was giving me a special birthday present. 

On my birthday, she gave me a card that read, “I give you my trust.” Holding that card in my hand, I understood the weight and beauty of what was being offered. I was deeply grateful. What most of our friends have told us is that the process of coming to faith really gained traction for them once they started to significantly trust a Christian. 

There is an invisible wall between distrust and trust—a threshold. It seems that people must move through this threshold into trust in order for them to continue on to Jesus. But why is this our starting place? Shouldn’t we be talking about new ways of laying out the gospel? What about quoting verses for people? 

Can’t we just focus on Bible verses that better connect with the postmodern generation? No, we can’t. Relationships, genuine friendships are our currency.”

All of us in ourselves are incomplete. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for your faithful friends.

“A genuine friend helps out even when it comes at great personal cost. – Guy Caley

God’s Word: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS

“Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them” – Acts 6:3

Pastor Andy Cook writes: “A life-threatening crisis came to my home when I was only 25. My wife suffered a near-fatal stroke and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors scrambled to keep her alive. Within hours, we were making decisions that face families countless times, every day. Our options included surgery, medical treatment and prayer. To make matters worse, two doctors adamantly called for two radically different courses of action. One proposed immediate surgery, while the other warned that immediate surgery would be the worst of all options.

Both said my wife might die if their course of advice wasn’t taken. A third doctor solved our dilemma by arranging a course of treatment acceptable to both of our first two doctors, and within a few months, that course of action proved to be the right one. Looking back on that time, the comparison is almost too much to comprehend. On Wednesday, my most difficult decision was what to choose for lunch. On Thursday, I needed to make a life-saving decision for my wife! Needless to say, crisis intensified our search for wisdom.”

In all that you do, practice God’s wisdom. Today in prayer, pray that you would be a person of the Lord, full of His wisdom.

“You cannot access wisdom by the megabyte. Wisdom is concerned with how we relate to people, to the world, and to God.” – Edmund P. Clowney

God’s Word: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.” – Acts 4:36-37

Author Earl Palmer wrote the following: “I am convinced that C. S. Lewis is correct in the point he makes in his remarkable speech “The Weight of Glory” that the cure for pride is not the humiliation of a person so that pride is broken.

Rather, the cure for pride is to honor people so that they do not need the false support of a proud spirit. “I suddenly remembered that no one can enter heaven except as a child; and nothing is so obvious in a child—not a conceited child, but a good child—as its great and undisguised pleasure in being praised.”

Life is hard, but encouragement to live in Christ is stronger. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for those who have encouraged you and seek to be an encourager to others.

“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

God’s Word: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” – Hebrews 3:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus.” – Acts 3:19-20

Frank Viola writes: “If you could reduce the gospel to one word, most scholars would choose metanoia—the Greek word translated “repentance” in the New Testament… Most of the time we translate both “meta-noeo” and “meta-noia,” or literally “change of [meta] mind [noia],” as “repentance.” Some have called the translation of metanoia as “repentance” the “worst mistranslation in the New Testament.”

Some have translated it as a “turnaround,” a 180-degree change of direction. That is almost as bad, as if Jesus only takes us on a detour. The Aramaic of metanoia really means a “returning home.” When Jesus restores the original image of God in us, when we become new creatures in Christ, when “old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV), we are learning how to be the original humans God made us to be. We are returning home.”

When the Lord gets a hold of our life, we should have a new focus. Today in prayer, repent from any and every sin in your life and follow Jesus.

“That promise applies to you today…repent of your sins and they will be blotted out!” – Jerry Shirley

God’s Word: “And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 18:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” – Acts 3:6

Jake Meador wrote: “An old joke can sum up the failure nicely: It’s said that Thomas Aquinas was once brought into a great city where he was to meet the pope. He saw huge churches, clerics in ornate garb, and great armies lined up to defend the church’s rule. And as he took all this in, the pope looked at him and said, “No more can St. Peter say ‘silver and gold have I none,’” referencing the story in Acts 3 where Peter says those words to a lame man begging to be healed.

“Indeed,” responds Thomas, “but neither can he say, ‘rise, take up your bed and walk.’” In the years since World War II the American church has consistently chosen to chase power, prestige, and mainstream status. We have gained all of those things. The tragedy, of course, is that those are the very things that Jesus warns us about so frequently in the Gospels.”

In all that do, in all the awards and recognition you receive, give glory to Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is glorious and give Christ the glory in all areas of your life.

“He is altogether glorious – unequalled in splendor and unrivaled in power. He is beyond the grasp of human reason – far beyond the grasp of any scientific mind. Inexhaustible, immeasurable, and unfathomable – eternal, immortal and invisible. The highest mountain peaks and the deepest canyon depths are just tiny echoes of His proclaimed greatness. And the blazing stars above, the faintest emblems of the full measure of His glory. – Matt Redman

God’s Word: “Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!” – Psalm 66:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:46

Randy Alcorn wrote the following “The only “church growth formula” the early church possessed was the body of truth flowing with the blood of grace. They drew thousands to Jesus by being like Jesus. But what does it mean to “be like Jesus”? We could come up with long lists of His character qualities. But the longer the list, the less we can wrap our minds around it. (I can’t even juggle three balls. How could I juggle dozens?) But what if the character of Christ was reducible to two ingredients? In fact, it is:… Jesus is full of two things: grace and truth.”

Worldwide, people are anxious to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can share the Gospel with others.

“The church exploded in growth because the people loved being together. When you get a group of people together who genuinely believe something and who really enjoy each other, it’s such a contagious atmosphere that you can’t keep people away from it.” – Bob Russell

God’s Word: “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.” – Acts 4:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” – Acts 2:42

Fleming Rutledge writes: “The Bruderhof is one such Christian community with many locations around the world. Unlike most such attempts to build radical communities, the Bruderhof has not only survived, it is thriving. In 2021 they celebrated their hundredth anniversary. Its members are committed to live according to the Sermon on the Mount and, significantly, to personify the description of the earliest Christian communities in Acts 4:32-37.8 

Their openness to society at large (“in” it but not “of” it) is remarkable; many of them are out in the world from time to time, serving among unaffiliated others with a surprising level of comfort; they are exceptionally affirming of those not similarly committed, with a minimum of self-righteousness—making them attractive to seekers.

Unlike monastic orders and the all-but-vanished Shakers, they are more often than not married, with families of (typically) more than two children who are lovingly raised and educated within the community. Unlike the Amish, they are at home on social media and make good use of it.

They earn enough money from their shared businesses of making beautifully crafted wooden toys and sophisticated medical equipment to have a presence in the world at large, but there is no private ownership; all is shared within the community. The Bruderhof is proof that the Sermon on the Mount can actually be lived, and far from being a rebuke to the rest of us, they are a great encouragement. 

Not many are called to their radical way of life, but their effect on those who encounter them is considerable. It goes without saying that they are not perfect, and have their struggles, but their continuing existence, their influence, and their strength are a powerful witness to the rest of us that the person and teachings of Jesus Christ are not only within reach but also the source of a rich and sustainable life. 

In their low-key witness, there is a quiet power. The hidden glory of the vine and the branches is manifested in a way that embraces us all with the hope that we, also, are the blessed. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” when the Lord comes again in “the glory of his righteousness and wonders of his love.””

Are you in fellowship with Christ? Today in prayer, thank Jesus that you are in fellowship with Him and for fellowship with other Christians. 

“Behind every saint stands another saint.” – Friedrich van Hugel

God’s Word: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38

Annemarie S. Kidder wrote: “The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament to express repentance means “to turn,” reflecting the notion of journeying and pilgrimage and an attitude and relationship between YHWH and ancient Israel that required constant vigilance and intentionality.

The Greek word used in the New Testament is metanoia, basically denoting a “change of mind,” with only subtle nuances of regret or remorse. When we repent we “turn” and “change our mind” about who we thought we were and the acceptability of what we have done. We recognize the difference between our ways and the ways God intended for us and find that we have drifted off course and out of line with the divine current. Confession, on the other hand, comes from a Latin word meaning “to agree” and “to give consent.” It describes an oral activity, a moment in time when we “agree” to the difference observed between what should have been and was not, due to our actions, when we verbally lay bare and make public our off-course dealings and doings.”

Once we realize the gravity of our own sin, the next step in healing our relationship with God is to repent of our sins. We need to trust that Christ died for those sins and He has forgiven us. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life to Jesus and receive His forgiveness.

“True repentance has a double aspect; it looks upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye.” – Robert Smith

God’s Word: “‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” – Mark 1:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'” – Acts 2:26-28

Gabe Fung wrote: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a “pulling back of the curtain” to reveal both the unseen realities of the present and the unseen realities of the future. It is at its core a book about discipleship as it calls hearers to stay faithful to Jesus knowing that he is ultimately in control and will one day return to put all things right.

Revelation 21-22 are the final chapters of the book. They give us a picture of the glorious future that awaits Jesus’ followers when he returns as King and Lord of all. At that time, there will be a new creation, heaven will come down to earth, God will come to be with his people, and all that plagued and pained the human race will be wiped away (21:1-8)."

Our heavenly Commander has also given us hope and has sent us the assurance that He is coming. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that through Him we have eternal life and a hope in Heaven.

“Once a man is united with Christ, how could he not live forever?” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” – Psalm 16:9-10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” – Acts 2:20 

On 11 March 1942, during World War II, General Douglas MacArthur and members of his family and staff left the Philippine Island of Corregidor, where his forces were surrounded by the Japanese. They traveled in PT boats through stormy seas patrolled by Japanese warships and reached Mindanao two days later. From there, MacArthur and his party flew to Australia in a pair of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, ultimately arriving in Melbourne by train on 21 March. In Australia, he declared, "I came through and I shall return".

After 2 and ½ years of fighting, General MacArthur returned to the Philippines.

General MacArthur addressed the Filipino people by radio from a beach on the island of Leyte on October 20, 1944.

“People of the Philippines, I have returned!” he told them. “By the grace of Almighty God, our forces stand again on Philippine soil—soil consecrated in the blood of our two peoples.”

Jesus promised the same words to His disciples: “I will come back.” And He will keep his promise. Today in prayer, praise the Lord He is coming and seek to follow Him every day.

"Consider the times: look for Him who is above time." - Ignatius of Antioch

God’s Word: “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” – Joel 2:31

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” – Acts 2:4

John Ortberg likens the transformative path of Christ to sailing. Sailors can't make the wind show up; the wind has a mind of its own. But that doesn't mean there is nothing for them to do. Sailors can choose to be alert and ready to catch the breeze or the gale. They can hoist and trim the sails so that when the wind comes, they move. They can cooperate with whatever little breath of wind comes their way. They can be ready so that when the gale

comes along, they don't sink. They hear and feel the wind and take hold of the helm and move. Jesus said, "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" (Jn 3:8).

We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, listening and following Him in all that we do. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit that you may do His will. 

“Savior, fill me with Thy Spirit, As I seek and wait and pray,

Bend and break me, blessed Master—Make me wholly Thine today.

Lord, I bow in full surrender, Yielding all I have to Thee:

Come and fill me with Thy Spirit—Sanctify Thyself in me.

I would tarry in Thy presence, 'Til endued with power and love:

I would know the mighty fullness, Of Thy Spirit from above.

Will He come in all His fullness, As I now obey Thy call?

Yes, oh, yes, for Thou has promised, If I come confessing all.” —Oswald J. Smith

God’s Word: “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” – Titus 3:5-6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” – Acts 1:14

Mark Batterson writes: “Several years ago I was part of a small group with a friend who was working with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Georgetown University. As we shared prayer requests at the end of one of our meetings, my friend said their ministry needed a computer and I said I’d pray for him. I started praying that God would provide a computer, and then I felt as if God interrupted me.

It’s hard to describe the tone I heard from God. It was stern but not unkind.

It was as if the Holy Spirit whispered these words to my spirit: Why are you asking Me? You’re the one with the extra computer! So I quit praying mid-sentence and decided to do something about it. I told my friend I had a computer that I wanted to give him. And I became the answer to my own prayer. Why ask God to do something for us when it is within our power to do something about it ourselves? There are some things you don’t need to pray about.

You don’t need to pray about whether you should love your neighbor. You don’t need to pray about whether you should give generously or serve sacrificially. You don’t need to pray about whether you should bless someone when it is within your power to do so. God has already spoken. What you need to do is quit praying and start acting. Fill out the application. Make the call. Pack the U-Haul.”

The Lord takes joy anytime we come to him with our problems in prayer. Today in prayer, be persistent in your prayers and seek Jesus with your whole heart.

“Wherever we seek the Lord with true hearts he is found of us; whenever we cry unto him he heareth us. Every place is hallowed ground to a hallowed heart, and every day is a holy day to a holy man. From January to December the calendar has not one date in which prayer is forbidden.” – Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “pray continually” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

Bob Goff wrote the following: “If you’ve ever run a business or led a team of people, you know what it’s like to send someone in your place. You know they’re going to interact with a person who might not know you, and that person will base their opinion about you on the someone you sent. Parents feel this too. 

We often feel like our kids are little representations of us. If they’re kind and respectful, people say we raised them well. If they toilet paper the neighbor’s house, we worry others will judge us for our kids’ behavior. God works in much the same way. When people interact with difficult, judgmental people who say they follow Jesus, it’s hard to imagine how the God they say they’re speaking for is gracious and kind. 

We can say all the right words, but if we don’t model love the way Jesus did, people won’t just think we’re mean—they’ll think God is. I get that. The best way to give people a glimpse of God is for us to be exactly who He says we are: love. He says people will know we follow Him when they see how we love one another. He put His confidence in us to represent Him because He knows what we’re capable of if we’ll put down our pride. He wouldn’t have put us on the job if He didn’t think we were ready.”

The Lord desires us to reach others for Him. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can love others and be His witness in the world.

“It is always right that a man should be able to render a reason for the faith that is within him.” – Sydney Smith

God’s Word: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †

“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” – Acts 1:3

Russ Ramsey wrote the following: “Jesus’s resurrection opened a door between the fallen, groaning world into which he was born and the renewal of all things. That door was a stone rolled back by the very finger of God from the mouth of a grave outside of Jerusalem. Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son, present at creation, came in the flesh to be the mediator between God and man.

He lived the life of perfect righteousness that all men have failed to live. He died as a lamb led to the slaughter, offering himself up as the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world, once and for all. He rose from the grave defeating death itself. Bearing all authority in heaven and on earth, he lives as the appointed heir of all things.7 He rules over every corner of creation, putting every enemy under his feet while making alive by grace through faith those who were dead in their sins.

…Jesus’s resurrection is the guarantee of the coming renewal of all things. On that day, the world into which he was born will become like an old, old tale.”

Our Hope is in Jesus Christ who did rise from the grave and gives eternal life to all who trust in Him. Today in prayer, praise Christ for His resurrection.

“Our old history ends with the Cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.” – Watchman Nee

God’s Word: “While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” – Luke 24:36

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN ACTS †