I got the phone call
and heard her voice
from a hospital bed.
She said my name
but
not just my name
as we had a conversation
about
God~
the One who she knows
is with her
was with her
the day of her fall.
Now
she is eating
she is talking
she is remembering
as
she is a living
miracle
that only
the One
whom I prayed to
the One
whom many of you have prayed to
heard
our prayers
and
in three days
she is on her
journey of recovery
from
an accident
that could have
taken her life.
At first I questioned
"Is this really you God"~
as
did He really answer our prayers?
It is crazy, isn't it,
to question
God
when He answers a prayer
in the way that
we have asked Him to answer it.
It is overwhelming
to receive
what you have asked for
in the way that you have asked for it.
An answer to prayer~
a miracle.
Have you felt that way
in the midst of a trial
when you cry out to
Him
because
there is nothing else you can do
and you believe
that
He hears you
and then
He answers
in the way that you want Him to
and it
is overwhelming
&
hard to accept
&
hard to believe
that God did that for you?
But doesn't He always answer our prayers~
It may be a yes
It may be a no
It may be a wait for now~
but He always answers
in the best way
that is
the best for us
whether it is a yes
whether it is a no
or
whether it is wait.
So
Why Pray?
because
He hears~
I call on you, my God, for You will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 17:6
Why Pray?
because
He cares~
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7
Why Pray?
because
His Son did~
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
Luke 5:16
What are you praying about
that you are in the
midst of waiting for an answer?
What have you prayed about
that you have received a yes or
that you have received a no?
Don't we all want a yes from God?
But aren't all of
His answers a
YES
because
He always responds
in the best way
that is the best way
for you & I
even if it doesn't appear to be in the moment.
I wish God
always
gave us what we wanted when we wanted it.
I wish
God
answered
all our prayers
with a
great big yes,
but then again
He has
because
His ways are perfect.
Just ask
Joseph,
the one with the
Technicolor Dream Coat
the one
who was thrown in a cistern
and
was sold into slavery
and
was
falsely accused
and was
put into prison
and
was forgotten by those who promised they would put in a good word for him...
But
God was with him all along
showing him favor
even though
it appeared
that God was saying no.
But
in due time
Joseph got the
yes
that he could see
when he was released from prison
and
was put in charge of all of Egypt
because
God was answering his prayers
because
it was always about
God's greater plan
God's greater purpose
in all things
as
Joseph could confidently now say to those brothers who betrayed him
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20
So
Why Pray?
because
God is
always answering your prayers
with a
yes
as
He is always working behind the scenes for
your good
because
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
as we are being
conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29
I thank you
God
for answering our prayers for
Lori
and for answering all
of our prayers
whether we experience the answer we want
at this moment.
So
Put Joy in Your Story
and
Rejoice always, ___________ (PUT your name)
Pray continually, ______________
Give thanks in all circumstances _________________;
for this is God’s will for you, _____________,
in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:6-8