I love the story about the guy who is struggling to find a parking space. "Lord," he prays. "I can't stand this. If you open a space up for me, I swear I'll give up drinking and go to church every Sunday."
Suddenly, the clouds part and the sun shines on an empty parking spot. Without hesitation, the man says: "Never mind, I found one!"
Isn't that the way we are so often? We encounter some kind of trial or have some kind of need and there are times we pray as a last resort. But then when we pray, we find that what our heart's desire was...comes about!
But how often do we give God credit for what he has done? There are times when we are like the guy looking for the parking place where we just go...oh wait, I guess I don't need you after all God. The Bible says that if we ask anything according to his will...he will hear us. And if he hears us...then we know that we will receive what we asked. The key is to match our will with God's will. God answers prayers always...but it will be in one of three ways. The first is what we are looking for, which is "here is what you asked for". The second way he answers pray is "No". He is not going to do what we have asked him to do. Why? Because it is his will that we are to look for...not our will. And if there is a conflict between my will and God's will...guess who is going to win? But there is a third way that God will respond to your prayer...and that is "not yet". When you take a close look at the Bible and see how God works...timing is key. It could be that God is going to bring you what you have asked for...but not just yet. So, pray about everything, all the time. And God will answer your prayer in one of those three ways. But when he so plainly answers the desire of your heart...make sure to give him credit and give him thanks. If you ask and it takes place...God is at work. Give him the credit and give him the thanks due him.
Here's our Bible verse for today...
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (15) And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Remember I'm praying for you!
With love, PJ
Suddenly, the clouds part and the sun shines on an empty parking spot. Without hesitation, the man says: "Never mind, I found one!"
Isn't that the way we are so often? We encounter some kind of trial or have some kind of need and there are times we pray as a last resort. But then when we pray, we find that what our heart's desire was...comes about!
But how often do we give God credit for what he has done? There are times when we are like the guy looking for the parking place where we just go...oh wait, I guess I don't need you after all God. The Bible says that if we ask anything according to his will...he will hear us. And if he hears us...then we know that we will receive what we asked. The key is to match our will with God's will. God answers prayers always...but it will be in one of three ways. The first is what we are looking for, which is "here is what you asked for". The second way he answers pray is "No". He is not going to do what we have asked him to do. Why? Because it is his will that we are to look for...not our will. And if there is a conflict between my will and God's will...guess who is going to win? But there is a third way that God will respond to your prayer...and that is "not yet". When you take a close look at the Bible and see how God works...timing is key. It could be that God is going to bring you what you have asked for...but not just yet. So, pray about everything, all the time. And God will answer your prayer in one of those three ways. But when he so plainly answers the desire of your heart...make sure to give him credit and give him thanks. If you ask and it takes place...God is at work. Give him the credit and give him the thanks due him.
Here's our Bible verse for today...
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (15) And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Remember I'm praying for you!
With love, PJ