Day 19: god answers prayer but he doesn't follow instructions
READ IT
Isaiah 40:13-14
“Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave him counsel? Who did he consult? Who gave him understanding and taught him the paths of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding?”
TAKE IT TO HEART
I have another favorite book on prayer titled Power Praying by my friend Jennifer Kennedy Dean (who went to be with the LORD in 2019). In her book, Jennifer reminds us that God loves our prayers and that power praying happens when God, who longs to give, is met by man, who longs to receive His gift. God is the initiator, and because He made the promises, He invited the petition.
What might happen if you approached every crisis, prayer request, heart cry as an opportunity to experience God? And what if you were confident that the experience of God would be a tremendous blessing to you (and everyone around you)? Wouldn’t you approach prayer (and your crisis) with baited anticipation rather than confused angst?
Oh that we would embrace and demonstrate that kind of faith!
Jennifer goes on to say that God Himself will remind you of the promises that He is inviting you to take hold of. In doing so, He is reminding you what you can count on. The promises are not for you to use in getting your way with God, but rather for God to use to inspire faith and confidence in you.
“When you treat prayer as if you have the right to tell God how to do His work, you will be disappointed. God does not take instructions. When you realize that God’s ways are not your ways, that His ways are superior to your ways, you will not be thrown off balance when circumstances seem to be leading away from God’s will rather than towards it. You can trust that God is steadily moving forward in the direction of His will.”
And that is a good direction to go.
PRAY FOR THESE THINGS TODAY:
Isaiah 40:13-14
“Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave him counsel? Who did he consult? Who gave him understanding and taught him the paths of justice? Who taught him knowledge and showed him the way of understanding?”
TAKE IT TO HEART
I have another favorite book on prayer titled Power Praying by my friend Jennifer Kennedy Dean (who went to be with the LORD in 2019). In her book, Jennifer reminds us that God loves our prayers and that power praying happens when God, who longs to give, is met by man, who longs to receive His gift. God is the initiator, and because He made the promises, He invited the petition.
What might happen if you approached every crisis, prayer request, heart cry as an opportunity to experience God? And what if you were confident that the experience of God would be a tremendous blessing to you (and everyone around you)? Wouldn’t you approach prayer (and your crisis) with baited anticipation rather than confused angst?
Oh that we would embrace and demonstrate that kind of faith!
Jennifer goes on to say that God Himself will remind you of the promises that He is inviting you to take hold of. In doing so, He is reminding you what you can count on. The promises are not for you to use in getting your way with God, but rather for God to use to inspire faith and confidence in you.
“When you treat prayer as if you have the right to tell God how to do His work, you will be disappointed. God does not take instructions. When you realize that God’s ways are not your ways, that His ways are superior to your ways, you will not be thrown off balance when circumstances seem to be leading away from God’s will rather than towards it. You can trust that God is steadily moving forward in the direction of His will.”
And that is a good direction to go.
PRAY FOR THESE THINGS TODAY:
- Invite God to give you a promise (or 2 or 3) that He intends to illustrate on the platform of your life. Jot those promises on post-it notes and place them where you will see them often (your bathroom mirror, steering wheel, or refrigerator door).
- Who needs to be reminded of those promises today? Text them and share the promise. Then invite them to ATM if they are not already coming.
- Pray that every candidate running for office will have listening ears and tender hearts.
- Pray that media personalities would have the same.
- TSC embraces the heart of God. We put our money and resources (including people) where God’s called us to join Him in His global agenda. You are never more like Jesus than when you go. Check out tsclife.org/missions and spend some time acclimating yourself to the many ways we are on mission. Ask God how you and your family can be a part of what we are doing.