God Answers
Recently I opened a book and on the dedication page it read, “You prayed a prayer in August of 1984 that God answered on July 2, 2016.” I recalled a verse that caused me to question that statement. In Isaiah 65:24 (NLT) we read, “I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” What a thought-provoking verse! God’s ways are far beyond my comprehension. God is omniscient. He knows our hearts, our thoughts and every detail of our lives. He knows our present and future needs, our fears, our failures and our victories. Yet even though He is able to provide, to protect, to heal and to meet our every need, we must ask, believe and trust. It has been said that the only prayers God can’t answer are the prayers that are not prayed. So, we must ask, but when does God answer?
When someone asks you a question, do you wait until days, weeks, or even years to respond? Usually, we respond immediately. This verse suggests that God answers immediately or even before our prayer is formulated by our mind or our voice. And if God answers the moment we pray, why must we keep praying the same prayer over and over, waiting for the answer to be revealed? God’s ways are always purposeful. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, after teaching them what we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer, he told the parable of the friend in need and how his persistence resulted in provision. Also, in Luke when teaching the parable of the persistent widow, we read, “And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 1:1 (ESV) Jesus was teaching us to ask and keep asking. But why?
I believe that when God hears our prayer, He answers, then sets His plan in place. He starts His perfect work in us drawing us closer to Himself. We sometimes have to wait until His answer is revealed, but while we wait there is a work of faith and trust building within us drawing us closer to Him.
Whether we receive the answer immediately or we wait, God is asking us to trust in His wisdom and His timing. We must have faith, believing that He is able to do what to us might seem impossible. God responds to our pleas in ways that will bring Him glory and His ways are always for our good. When His answer is revealed, whether it is “yes,” “no,” “not now,” or “I have a better plan,” in retrospect, not only do we understand the period of time between the praying and the revealed answer, we see that His answer is always perfectly timed, in the will of God and brings glory to His Name. So come boldly to the throne of God.
Ask. Believe. Trust. God Answers.
Matthew 6:8b (NLT)…for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Isaiah 65:1 (NLT) The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name.
Psalm 20:6-7 (ESV) Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4 (NLT)
Great post! I’m so thankful that God hears my prayers!
A perfect primer of prayer.