Wednesday, January 4, 2012

He always answers

I've heard people say that God doesn't answer their prayers. That God has forgotten about them or thinks they are not important enough to bother with.

God died for you. On a cross. I promise that no matter who you are, He adores you.

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21:22 I've misunderstood this verse many times to mean that if I were to ask God for a car He would have one in my driveway or that if I asked Him for a boyfriend I would have one the next day. Because God loves me so much, He won't give me something that will harm me, even if I beg Him for it. He has a plan bigger than what I can see and often my silly little human wants do not fit into that plan.

You have just taken a tray of cookies out of the oven and your four-year-old son Elijah gets excited and reaches for one. You would obviously tell Elijah no because you know he will get burned if you give him a cookie now. But he doesn't understand that the cookies are hot; he wants a cookie now. Little Elijah may cry and say that you don't love him. Maybe he'll say that you're a mean mommy or daddy but in truth, you told him no because you know more than he does. You didn't tell Elijah no because you want to keep all the cookies to yourself; you said no because you don't want him to get hurt. You told him no because you cared enough.

We, as children of God ask for "cookies" all the time. We think our prayers are being ignored or that maybe God doesn't love us. But that is not the case. God may not have dropped a new car in your driveway this morning, or transformed your ranch home into a colonial mansion-that doesn't mean He hasn't heard your prayers or that He doesn't love you. In fact it's exactly the opposite! He loves you so much that He sometimes tells you no. We, as children of God, have somebody to look out for us when we want things that will harm us. We, as children of God often mistake His love and lose faith in Him.

I and many others have done this but take heart for God has not abandoned you. Your prayers are being heard and whether the answer is that wonderful yes, or a no you don't want to hear... rest assured that as long as you earnestly seek Him, He is orchestrating something beautiful that will bless you and bring Him to greater glory in your life. He always answers prayers so rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Wait on Him and His timing...He could be waiting for the cookies to cool so He can give them to you next to a glass of milk-or in my case coffee.

In Him,
Tiffany Raye