“And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,” (Acts 9:11 NAS95)
Here God speaks to Ananias and gives him instructions to heal Saul (soon to be called Paul). As the context indicates, Saul has entered into an extended time of prayer and fasting. I find that interesting. He’s been struck blind. He now knows Jesus as real and not a phantom. He also recognizes that he persecuted followers of the true God, the God whom he thought he was serving. Words cannot describe Saul’s confusion and the radical reordering of reality he just underwent and was still undergoing. Yes, prayer is appropriate. Notice too how God involves himself with both Ananias and Saul. Prayer undergirds the nature of life with God.
Back to Saul and his praying. If I were Saul, my heart would be filled with shame, contempt for self, sorrow, confusion, anger, fear, and a number of other unpleasant emotions. I’d talk to God about them all. Saul might have expected judgment, but that’s not God, and prayer through Jesus begins to soothe the heart and remove the confusion. God wants to send Ananias to him for restoration so I don’t think judgment was on God’s mind — rather, healing of the heart, mind, body, and soul. As Saul sifted through his experience and listened, I think God met him. I think God gave Saul an indelible experience of Himself and His love. Saul, I believe, experienced a rich and very present sense of forgiveness and acceptance. While he might have had to pray through many emotions over the three days, when Ananias laid hands on him, all that changed. The Spirit filled him. God’s love marked him. He reeked with responsiveness to his Savior. Prayer became his life (just read his letters). He lived in the space of God’s embrace and never looked back. May we as well.
For Reflection:
“Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”” (Psalms 40:16 NAS95)
- When have you feared to approach God? What made you miss His goodness?
- Where might God be working to change your experience and understanding of Him? Where are the growing edges of your faith?
