DAY 21: ANSWERS FROM GOD

God’s very presence is recognized and released when we pray. And, yes, God still moves today in powerful, incredible ways! When we are faithful in our prayers, we will notice changes in our lives. Our fleshly desires will diminish in light of our desire to do God’s will.

Prayer empowers us to be better friends, better spouses, better parents, better business partners, better people overall. The world will not understand why we are so different—why we know such joy in the face of adversity, why we feel such peace in a valley that’s dark—but we’ll know that the transformation we’re experiencing is due solely to devoted prayer. The more time we spend on our knees in the presence of God, the more we will experience peace, hope, and joy filling our days.

In the final section of Lord, Hear Our Cry, we will learn of the incredible gifts God offers to those whose lives are centered around prayer.

If I were to take a poll asking people what they most want from prayer, I bet the number one response would be “answers.” When we pray, we are seeking a response from God.

There is both human responsibility and divine reassurance that work in tandem to accomplish answered prayer. We humbly come before the throne of grace with our petitions, and God answers by faithfully directing our steps.

Knowing that God answers the prayers of those who love Him and are obedient to Him, it may be helpful to look at how He answers prayer:

• Sometimes God’s answer is immediate. We pray and receive a “green light” from God. Doors open, things change, and we are certain of His hand in the situation.

• Sometimes the answer to prayer is delayed. We must always pray until God shows the way. It’s also important to not get ahead of God. I’ve tried that a few times, and it never ended well. Isaiah 30:18 says, “the Lord waits to be gracious to you…blessed are all those who wait for him.” Sometimes God is waiting to give us something more gracious than we can imagine. If our request is wrong, God says “no,” if the timing is wrong, God says, “wait.”

• Sometimes our requests are denied. When I hear people talk of “unanswered prayer,” I want them to reconsider that phrase. Did God really not answer, or was His answer just, “no”? God always knows what is best for us, and we should be constantly thankful for His divine wisdom. Many of us have prayed for things in the past and now we’re saying, whew, I’m glad that didn’t happen!

For years, I’ve kept a journal of my prayers and God’s answers to them. I can tell you this—when facing difficult circumstances, thumbing through these journals and seeing how God has faithfully answered, builds my confidence and faith. It reminds me that He will continue to provide for me.

If you have a pressing need today, know that God isn’t holding out on you. Pray and wait for His answer.