When you really let this verse sink in and become a reality to you, then you can immediately give thanks to God for answering your prayer as soon as you have said your "Amen."
For this verse tells us that we know that God hears us, and we know that He answers us...so an immediate thanksgiving relays to God our confidence in Him. Don't you think that gladdens His heart!
Just think about it with a father/child relationship...when your child asks you for something that you've already decided would be good for them at some point, and if you tell them, "Yes - I will get that for you just as soon as I see you are ready for it; but be assured, you will get it", how heartwarming would it be for your child to look up to you with a radiant smile and instead of saying, "I WANT IT NOW!", they would say, "Thank you, Daddy...I know you are always good to me."
I think that's exactly what God loves to hear in our response..."Thank you, Father...YOU are always good to me." As we talked about yesterday, this promise is still wrapped in the condition of our request being aligned with God's will. But within the parameters of that condition we are told, as an absolute statement, "we know that we have what we have asked Him for." So if we take God at His word (and we have no reason not to!), then let's be confident in His hearing our requests...and in His granting our requests.
So here's one for you that I've pondered...I know it is God's will for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.") So if I pray this very Scripture for a family member, "Lord, please bring _______ to a knowledge of Your truth, accept you as their Lord, and be saved"....does that mean that that person is absolutely going to be saved?
Well, I would love to think that...it's just that there is another aspect of God's will...that we all make our decision about Him based on our free will...Revelation 3:20 states, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." We can pray for God to keep knocking, and I absolutely believe He will. But we can't pray for Him to force Himself on the person we are praying for...He won't. That person will have to be the one to open the door and invite Him in.
It's complicated...it's simple. Everything is intertwined in God's will, and yet He hears us, and He loves to grant our requests....just like earthly fathers love giving their children the very things they have asked for.
Keep praying, have confidence, give thanks!
For this verse tells us that we know that God hears us, and we know that He answers us...so an immediate thanksgiving relays to God our confidence in Him. Don't you think that gladdens His heart!
Just think about it with a father/child relationship...when your child asks you for something that you've already decided would be good for them at some point, and if you tell them, "Yes - I will get that for you just as soon as I see you are ready for it; but be assured, you will get it", how heartwarming would it be for your child to look up to you with a radiant smile and instead of saying, "I WANT IT NOW!", they would say, "Thank you, Daddy...I know you are always good to me."
I think that's exactly what God loves to hear in our response..."Thank you, Father...YOU are always good to me." As we talked about yesterday, this promise is still wrapped in the condition of our request being aligned with God's will. But within the parameters of that condition we are told, as an absolute statement, "we know that we have what we have asked Him for." So if we take God at His word (and we have no reason not to!), then let's be confident in His hearing our requests...and in His granting our requests.
So here's one for you that I've pondered...I know it is God's will for all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4, "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.") So if I pray this very Scripture for a family member, "Lord, please bring _______ to a knowledge of Your truth, accept you as their Lord, and be saved"....does that mean that that person is absolutely going to be saved?
Well, I would love to think that...it's just that there is another aspect of God's will...that we all make our decision about Him based on our free will...Revelation 3:20 states, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." We can pray for God to keep knocking, and I absolutely believe He will. But we can't pray for Him to force Himself on the person we are praying for...He won't. That person will have to be the one to open the door and invite Him in.
It's complicated...it's simple. Everything is intertwined in God's will, and yet He hears us, and He loves to grant our requests....just like earthly fathers love giving their children the very things they have asked for.
Keep praying, have confidence, give thanks!
1 comment:
When I go to God in prayer I know he hears me. I can feel myself being filled with the Holy Spirit. I will follow God's Will. He leads me and I will follow. I try to align my will with God's but I am earthly and sinful and I fall short. I try to follow God's teachings of love and forgiveness but I do not always have the right attitudes and thoughts and actions. I am confident that God hears me and He will help me to persevere. Some days I struggle, but God supports me and He gives me strength. Different, needful strength - financial, patience, endurance to see the day's end. I will continue to pray and give thanks to Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord. I am confident in His Love.
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