When I first learned how to pray effectively, I was (and still am) in awe of how God answered prayer. Sometimes it happened immediately and sometimes He was still working out the answer. Many times God answered the prayer in an unexpected way. Not bad, just different from what I had expected.
I learned early on that there are only three answers to prayer: Yes, No and Wait. While we rejoice in the yes answers, the no answers don’t keep me down because it only means He has something better for me and those I love. And the wait…well, that’s the hardest answer to bear, particularly if it’s a crucial need like a physical, financial or emotional need. And our family has had them over the years. Big time.
What’s exciting about it is that I’m in an expectant mood to see how He will answer it.
Some people think prayer is private and often it should be. Each person should sit with their creator and work out the details of their lives with Him. God loves us and He wants to hear from us. Whether it’s just a few words telling Him about your day or if it’s a more in-depth conversation about life events or personal issues. He wants to hear every detail of our lives, no matter how small. Remember He has the hairs on your head counted so if that isn’t detailed enough, I don’t know what is.
Over the years, my husband and I have prayed hundreds of thousands of prayers. Some corporately and some individually. But we try to make it a priority every day. It doesn’t always work out that way but we try.
Most of the time my prayers start out by giving Him glory. I move on to asking for forgiveness because I know I need it every day. I then pray for my family and friends’ needs, then my own needs and finally for global issues. God has been faithful over the years to answer my prayers so I will continue to pray to Him for the needs of my family & friends, church members and worldwide. Sometimes it’s daunting but I know God has called me to be a prayer warrior so that is what I will do.
Just this past Sunday we prayed for an individual who had severed a tendon and needed surgery. My husband and I prayed, and we were specific in our prayer: the surgeon would be a believer in Christ, that the surgery would be scheduled quickly and that the recuperation period would be minimal. The next day, I received an excited call. The surgeon who would do the surgery is, in fact, a believer along with his physician’s assistant and the surgery would happen today. Specific answers to specific prayers. This morning we prayed for God’s own hands to guide the doctor’s hands and that the surgery would go well without issue.
I could fill thousands of pages talking about how God answered prayer, sometimes, unbelievable answers! I try to remind myself on occasions of all the times He was faithful even when I was not.
These answers to prayer are what I call God Stories. I pray you have an abundance of your own God Stories.
Would you share one of your God stories with us and bless someone today?
Amen to this! Often, when I ask God for direction, I get Psalms 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God … ” or I get to trust and rest in Him. Yes, no and wait. Exactly.
Fourteen years ago, my husband passed away. As my children and I sat by his bed, he would say to us “I want to tell you these three things”. He said it several times, but could not continue. I don’t know if he could not find the words or strength. About 8 month after his passing, my children and I returned to a community where we once lived, One of my husband’s friends came to me. He said that the bible says that old men would dream dreams. He was not that old! But he said he had a dream where my husband came to him and told him “I want you to tell my family these three things”! So we believe those were the things he wanted us to know. God does work in mysterious ways to love and comfort us.
What a blessing for you and your family! I truly believe people have God inspired dreams… I have had a few myself over the years. I believe we’re going to see more and more of these types of dreams since we are living in the last days. Keep your eyes on the skies!