From Ben – 13 August 2017
We all know the wonderful promises scattered both in the O.T and N.T. of how God has promised to answer our prayers.
In Jeremiah 33: 3 “Call to me and I will answer you.”
Philippians 4: 6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
But what happens when you do pray and it seems that God hasn’t answered? It is as though you have wasted your time, because nothing has changed.
Let me assure you that God has heard our prayers. Yes, every word. He even knows the ache in your heart and the sigh on your lips. Prayers are not always answered in our time frame or even exactly how we want them answered. We are called on to live by faith and not by sight. Sight says, “show yourself by answering my prayer my way, in my time, for my benefit” That type of praying is more about you and your desires. Rather the prayer of faith asks and then trusts God to do what is best in His way and time. Prayer is an act of faith that trusts God for the not yet seen and that which is beyond our ability. If you do not get what you ask for and want; trust God to do what is best, even if it seems hard to do right now.
Remember the caution of James 4:2-3 “You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives”
Ask God, check your motive and then trust Him for what is beyond you, but doable for Him.