4 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. ² These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. ³ They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. ⁴ But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of men who believed now totaled about 5,000.

Acts 4:1-4

Dear God, this goes back to the winning and losing thing again. The Sadducees and priests felt like they were losing to “The Way,” so they imprisoned Peter and John. They needed to feel like they were getting control of this. Like they were winning. But what happened? More and more people believed. Maybe they made Peter and John more sympathetic figures and softened people’s hearts towards them. Either way, in the moment, Peter and John might have felt like they were losing and they weren’t. The leaders of the temple might have felt like they were taking back the momentum and power and starting to win, but they were only digging themselves a deeper hole.

Father, as I go into this day, help me to let go of the idea of winning and losing. Help me to simply not care. If it seems like I’m decreasing, my influence is waning, or things are going badly for me, help me to just sink into worshipping you more. On the other side, if I find myself getting praise, having influence, or things are going well for me, help me to deflect all glory to you and sink into the joy of worshipping you and loving you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen