What Faith Can Do: Eph. 3:20-21

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

Ephesians 3:20-21.

Some times in our relationship with Christ we pray about something and then when God answers the prayer we are surprised...

We pray for our requests but don't really believe that God will answer it. I am going to brag on God a little for some of the answered prayers in my life recently.

About six months ago we prayed about buying a house. We researched online and drove around local neighborhoods.Then, one day we met a realor at our friend's Memorial Day BBQ. He worked to help us find a house in the nieghborhood and price range we wanted. 

During the process we saw God work time and time again as He provided the money for a down payment, worked through the red tape of buying a foreclosed property, and the insureance debackle after we closed. He did a great work during this time in our lives and I want to give him the glory for that!

Also, my husband (Keep The Walk) and I had been praying for a little over a year to see if it was God's timing for us to start a family. I was starting to become discouraged and started to wonder if something was wrong. Would God choose for us to grow through infertility?... If we were blessed to have a child would the baby have special needs (there is two generations of Downs Sydrome in my family)?... Would I have an easy pregnancy?...Would I have a safe and natual delivery?...

God is working exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think! I am 6 months pregant and have had a pretty easy pregnancy. Also, we are expecting a healthy baby boy who is DS free and I do not have the dormant genetic gene for DS. Lastly I am excerising my faith and giving God control of the details for a safe and natual delivery.

Why Pray?

Sometimes when I pray if I am not careful I can tend to view my prayer list as a "wish list" or a way to convince God of my perspective of why He should answer my prayer. This is unintentional.

I think my motives are meant well...see I am trying to pray more.

However, when I look at the true reason to pray, I realize I am being selfish in my prayer life. 

 God is not a genie in a bottle that we can just call on when ever we want something. Also, He is not going to change His sovereign plan because we try to convince Him that our plan is better than His.

These are the wrong reasons to pray.

I was listening to the radio broadcast of Turing Point with Dr. David Jeremiah and he was speaking on Prayer from the book of Daniel in the 9th chapter and how prayer effected Daniel's life.

Lately, I have been feeling that I have not had an effective prayer life because some of the major requests I have been praying about are still "unanswered".

I was worried and becoming discouraged!

So I decided to tune in and really allow the Holy Spirit to speak through him.

It's not that I don't enjoy listening to preaching, but some times when you hear a message about a subject that is often preached about you can zone out and not focus on the content of the message. I cannot tell you every detail of the message but I can tell you what the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart about.

"We pray so that we can prepare our hearts for His answer to our prayer".

When we pray we are not trying to "change" things. God already knows the outcome because He is sovereign. He is not surprised, shocked, or caught off guard when the answer is revealed.

I pondered this truth which is evident all throughout the Scriptures when God's people prayed. I started to pray and ask God to prepare my heart for His answer to my prayers.

 I know that God answers every prayer as yes, no, or not yet. However sometimes His no and not yet answers can be perceived as He doesn't care or is not interested in answering my prayer. (What a lie that Satan tells!)

God cares enough to give you His best which is why he says no or not yet. He wants to give you the desires of your heart and He longs for His desires to become your desires.

Christian Friends, as we continue to live life together in community may the truth in this post encourage your heart and help to strengthen your relationship with our Savior as we learn why we pray.

What other truths do you encourage your heart with concerning the matter of prayer?

Image:

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/national-day-prayer