Have you ever given up praying for something very important because God seemed not to answer?
I have. I just gave up. I quit praying. I would pray for others and their needs but I quit praying fervently for my some of my personal needs.
Intellectually, I knew that my attitude did not line up with the desire of God’s heart. Yet, I just gave up praying for a few significant needs I had because God was silent. I did not want to continue to pester Him. . I just quit! That is, until this past week.
As I was reading in the devotional, Awakening fast, I came across these words in bold letters:
“ Many times, we can lose our passion in prayer or stop praying for certain things altogether because we lose heart or give up. But God invites us to keep them before Him and trust Him for an answer in His time.”
It seemed as if God was speaking through this writer only to me! In a split second, I realized that I had given up praying for some very real personal needs. I was nailed! I had lost heart. I had given up.
Then I remembered what God tells us concerning never giving up!
In THE MESSAGE translation of Matthew 7:7-11 we find:
7-11"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? “
Playing “cat-and-mouse” with God was the norm concerning the financial needs of Emmanuel Connections and the support services needed to make it a strong and vibrant conduit for God’s blessings within communities!
Having had that experience last week has renewed my passion for prayer for my needs. He is the one who will meet every need in every aspect of my life including those of Emmanuel Connections. I am developing stronger confidence in His love and trust that in His perfect timing He will answer.Have you given up on prayer on an important matter? I pray that this will encourage you to start again. Don’t hold back. You have nothing to lose if you do!
2 comments:
Me and two other guys in the Gulf Coast Network have been fasting every Thursday since Aug - it has stirred me up in prayer tremendously! It is amazing - it gives you an incredible sense of the presence of God.. I am glad you are blogging.
This was a wonderful testimony Vicki. As we humble ourselves before the Lord, He always provides. These words were told to me by you, "Hang in there and keep moving forward". Know that I am faithfully praying for you and Emmanuel Connections. Blessings, Julie
Post a Comment