The Prayer Journey
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
NIV
I have been walking with the Lord since I was 5. Throughout these many (many!) years, I have studied prayer, practiced prayer, and yes(!), I have been puzzled about prayer. I still do not have it all figured out. I hear teachers and preachers explain about the power of prayer- and I believe it! But I am still confused by the various schools of thought regarding prayer. I know it is important, but I sometimes think we make it too much about us, and not enough about Him.
I am so grateful for the grace that we have in Christ, that we do not have to turn something into “works”. I can pray the right way and have God hear me from on high. I can pray, with a right heart, but perhaps not with the right “formula” and still be rewarded with an answer I had hoped for. Other times, I feel I am doing it to the best of my ability, and yet the answer does not come out as I hoped.
Recently, in desperation of heart, I asked God for a specific answer to prayer. I prayed for Him to push a work deadline back to enable me to have adequate time to prepare. I believed that He would do it. At least I thought I did. And then the letter came, right on schedule as always. I pushed down my disappointment and God’s “no” answer, to begin to frantically pull things together. This went on for a month and a half. Weeks of praying, working, crying, and begging God for a deliverance from too much pressure. Last Friday, however, I received notification that my deadline had mysteriously moved back four months. Wow! Hallelujah for answered prayer! Right? You would think so; but honestly, at this point, I was disappointed. After feverishly preparing, I was ready to just get it behind me and move on. I got exactly what I asked for, but by the time He answered, I no longer wanted it the same way.
That is the part about prayer that causes me pause. The Lord allows us to bring our petitions to Him; to ask for the desires of our heart. But I really have no way of knowing what is best for me. What I think I need may not be the right thing at all.
So now the pendulum has swung in a new direction and I go back to my “reset” verse:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)
I have to believe that this, all of this, is working together for my good. The delayed answered to my prayer- the weeks of stress and relentless preparation… And now, the reprieve I first asked for. I do not understand how this is a good thing, but I believe it is. Why? Because He loves me! God loves me; He knows what I need. He knows when I need to stretch and when I need to rest. He knows when I need to grow and when I need Him to hide me safely in His wings. I am so grateful that I do not have to run my own show. It is all about Him. His will. His purpose. His timing. I do not have to get it right, or understand it as He does. I just have to ask, believe and receive.
For 13 years I have had this same deadline, same dread, same workload. But this year, I felt inspired to pray that it would be shoved back. I do not know why. But I believe that the Lord was using it to teach me something about prayer… the importance of asking for what we need; but trusting when it does not go our way. The realization that even if I do not get it like I want it, He is still at work. And finally, recognizing that “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” (A lyric to an 80’s love song whose author/title escape me now.) Even when it looks too late for a turn around, He can still pull it out! This God is too vast to be contained! He is too wonderful to fully comprehend, yet He says to us, “God ahead, child, ask me!” He enjoys hearing from us and He desires to help us with what we need.
I still don’t have the prayer thing totally figured out. But I will continue to practice the art of prayer until He comes. Through trial and error, study, experience and more prayer, I believe I am seeing more and more of His heart and His hand in my life.
Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me the privilege of asking you for things in prayer. Thank you that you hear me. Help me to release faith with my prayers, truly believing. And, Lord, grant me grace to receive Your response and to trust that it is for my good. In Jesus’ Matchless Name. Amen.
One benefit of your delayed deadline may be that you worked so hard in preparation for the earlier one that you can now relax and complete in it with a calm assurance knowing that it is indeed in His Hands to bring to completion on His timetable. Yes, prayer can be baffling but I think it’s why He teaches us to pray believing and trusting. But there sure are times I want to give Him instructions on how to do His part. Thank you for these thoughts this morning.
Libby,
I am sure you are right! Everything the Lord does is for a good reason- even if the greatest good is growth of my character! Thank you for your feedback.
Nice post.
Thank you, Denise, for the encouragement!