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Articles
God Answers Prayers
God will answer our prayers, but we need to pray to him with persistence just like in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18: 1-8. God values our faith and persistence.
Sometimes we get prayers that has God's unexpected answers. We have
the example of this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, of Paul's thorn in the flesh and it reads, And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
God's answers are always for our ultimate good.
There are conditions that go with answered and effective prayers.
-we must pray with faith-Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
-we must pray with obedience- John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
-we must pray with humility -2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Aligning our hearts with God's will opens the door to answered prayers.
Sometimes our prayers are answered in God’s timing, and we must have patience and wait.
We read in Ecclesiastes 3:11: "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. “Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Ex. Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21) Abraham and Sarah waited for the fulfillment of God's promise to give them a son, despite their old age. (Genesis 37-50) Joseph's journey is a profound story of waiting, faith, and perseverance. He waited for the fulfillment of his dreams, which foretold that he would rise to a position of great authority and that his family would bow to him.
Waiting is not wasted time; it's a season of preparation.
Let us all continue to pray to the Lord because God will answer our prayers of what he already knows what is best for us.
Robby Cable
Providence Church of Christ
606-305-8452
