Typically, this phrase warns us that we should carefully consider what we pray for as the answered prayer may yield unexpected circumstances. When we pray, we are typically praying for a change within our current circumstances or for a pleasing future. We are typically expecting this positive shift to occur within a short time frame. We don’t truly consider how our petitions may manifest. We don’t truly consider God’s timing versus our timing. Let’s Talk!
Prayer is a form of communication with Jesus, the Mediator between us and God (1 Timothy 2:5). When we pray, we are supposed to: go before the throne of grace with boldness (Hebrews 4:16); be persistent (Matthew 7: 7-8); have faith (Mark 11:24 and 1 John 5: 14-15); pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17); be without anxiety and exhibit thanksgiving (Philippians 4: 6-7). But there is more to just praying. We have to be striving to be one with Jesus. According to James 5:16, the prayer of a righteous person is effectual and fervent; this means that the prayers are powerful, impactful and very likely to be answered by God because He is listening intently to those who live upright. This brings me to the point of today’s posting.
Recently, I began going through a season in my life that caught me off guard. I didn’t understand what Jesus was attempting to show me so I begin to quiet the noise around me. I began to slow down. I began to take time for myself. In doing so, Jesus revealed to me a portion of what was occurring. He brought to my remembrance a certain prayer that I had prayed. I remembered praying the prayer at least twice with the first time being approximately 6 months ago. During that time, I had cried out to Him because I was uncomfortable, confused and desired to give up. So in His revelation, He showed me how that prayer had been fulfilled. I felt both relieved and upset. Relieved because He had answered my prayer but upset because I had not considered how it would manifest. I did not expect grief, hurt, or pain to be associated with the manifestation of that prayer. But truth be told, I should have expected those things as the prayer involved a separation, more dying of my flesh, more loss of control, more of God’s will being fulfilled… And just like I was, you may be living within an answered prayer and missing it because it does not look like what you envisioned.
Today, I desire for you to take a survey of your current season. Are you potentially living in answered prayers that did not manifest as you envisioned for them to? Are you missing God’s move because of the grit associated with the answered prayers? I desire to encourage you to be more attentive to your prayers especially those lifted up during trying times. Lastly, remember, we are not in control of the how, when, where, or timing of what God performs for us. Stay encouraged!
Read, dissect, and meditate of the above mentioned scriptures.
Real Talk with Keve 