Have you ever experienced injustice? Ever felt imprisoned unfairly?

Do any of these examples hit home:

• You got called for a foul, a penalty you know you didn’t commit but cost you dearly.
• A pivotal time or score error to your detriment never got corrected in a contest that mattered.
• You got discriminated against because of race, religion, gender, age or economic status.
• You were wildly misunderstood, falsely accused of saying something you didn’t say, and it sidelined you significantly.

How do you get set free from “imprisonments” like this? Acts 12 gives us some great clues. Let’s take a look.

PEOPLE PRAY. Peter was released from unjust imprisonment. Scripture suggests that earnest prayer had something to do with his release (Acts 12:5). Prayer changes things. God sees to it.

So invite prayer, invoke prayer, huddle in serious prayer. Something happens so often when we do (1 Samuel 12:22,23).

REST IS FOUND FIRST. Peter rested soundly the night before his date in a framed courtroom. He found rest for his soul in his Great Justifier (Acts 12:6).

Soul rest is the evidence we give ourselves that our hope and trust is alive and well. Find rest in God regardless of circumstances, my soul (Isaiah 26:3 and Galatians 3:5,6).

UNTOUCHED DOORS OPEN. “Electronic” doors opened for Peter upon his prison exit. He didn’t push his way out. Chains fell off unprompted too (Acts 12:7,10).

God has a way of arranging our release. How exciting! He has a way of working His mojo way better than a striking David Blaine magic show I viewed the other day.

Let’s let Him set us free (John 8:32, 36).

WE OBEY AND FOLLOW. At an angel’s command, Peter got up, got dressed and moved forward by faith. Even in prison God has steps of obedience for us to take (Acts 12:7-9).

So let’s move and follow His lead even when the world says we’re trapped.

When we pray, find rest in Him, don’t push our way into and out of situations, obey and follow Him, God has a way of settling our situations and setting us free.

And His emancipations have great scoring range. He sets us free in our circumstances, from our circumstances, and beyond our circumstances.

There is no injustice or imprisonment beyond His reach and ability to release us. Hallelujah for that!

Reflect: Who needs to be set free? How is your soul rest going? Any adjustments needed? Are you letting God open your doors?

A prayer to consider: LORD, thank You for releasing Peter and showing me how it’s done. Set me free from whatever without or within. Help me to pray for others’ release too. You are my strength and my deliverer. Amen.