December 18. Hebrews Ch 11-13
LOOKING INTO PRAYER.
“This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 AMP
GOOD DAY: Unanswered prayers are not strange to anybody who has ventured to pray before. In desperation at times, many people visit multiple prayer houses and even spiritists. In short, we all want to pray and have answers to our prayers from God. Because of some prayers that did not go the way I wanted, I started looking at biblical discussions about prayer and the practice of it by early Christian fathers. First I observed that God showed His prophets what He was going to do starting from Abraham. Genesis 18:17. The thread runs through the bible even with Jesus. So in His own way, He shows us what He wants to do. Second is even with the closest of the prophets to Him, He did not answer all their prayers as they wanted it but according to His purpose and timing. Again this thread runs through the bible again from Abraham to Jesus to the Apostles. Apostle Paul gave the secret of what God gives when the answer to our prayer is “NO”. “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NASB1995
We are not told what this condition was but it was a thorn in Paul’s flesh that he did not like. However, God gave him the grace to bear it. When your prayer goes unanswered the way that you desire it, you will be given the grace to bear and still fulfill your destiny.
Now, how do we get to the point of more answered than unanswered prayer? It is by praying according to His will. Know that it is God who will work out His will Himself. Man is just the channel that He uses.
How then do we know His will?
Let us learn from Abraham. He is the father of faith. God told Abraham that he would be a father at 90 years. By the five senses of man, this was not possible. However, God helped Abraham to imagine by asking him to look and try to count the stars. Genesis 15:5-6. When you can imagine that what you are praying for is possible, then you can have it. If your imagination is according to His will, you will have joy and be led forth with peace. Isaiah 55:12. Philippians 4:6-7. When your imagination agrees with His will, you will have joy and peace that are beyond human understanding. Then know that your imagination will come to pass. In His time, He will bring your imagination which is seen by you alone in your heart to become manifest for all to see. You must learn to know God’s peace and joy so when your imagination agrees with His will, you will know how He talks to you.
PRAY: Dear Lord, let the imagination of my heart be acceptable to You.
Bose Olatunbosun. +2348033355584