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“Answer me, O Lord for Your steadfast love is good; according to Your abundant mercy, turn to me.” Psalm 69:16 (ESV)

Don’t we just love those verses like “Ask and it will be given to you…” (Matthew 7:7).   Or how about the one “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith (Matthew 21:22.) Better yet, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).   We pray for it, believe it and we get exactly what we want – sounds like the best conversation ever, right?

Our obsession with getting exactly what we want can definitely take us down the wrong path.  One filled with disillusionment and disappointment.  Just keeping it real here – but we don’t always know what we need, what is best and what honors God’s will.  We view our requests with temporal pleasure in mind – what works for me right now.  But sweet friends, our loving Father responds with eternity in view. He answers yes, no or maybe with a transformative perspective aimed at birthing spiritual growth in us and ultimately glorifying His name.

What’s this birthing look like?  Well, I don’t know about you, but I know how it often looks for me.   You see we entertain prayer as moving God to do and act; we simply sit back and wait.  Experience teaches me that God works in and through me as part of the solution.  It may be an attitude adjustment. It could be I need to take a specific action on my part.  At times it has meant leaning in close and surrendering to the sacrificial role God wants me to play that I intended for others to fulfill.

Wow – that’s like really hard, isn’t it?  While praying strategically over a situation recently, I had no idea that part of the answer was me.  I was ready for God to move heaven and earth on my behalf.  Totally convinced He heard my pleas and cries for His help.  Before the sun began to rise, knees hit floors and scriptures were prayed claiming God’s divine love and mercy.  I had no lack of confidence in His ability to resolve  and intentionally line up all things in my favor.  Reality was, God wanted me to be one of the extenders of mercy.  He desired for me to not just pray but partner with Him.

Love this quote from Tony Evans: “We must have God’s perspective on our situations, not relying on our own. We perceive only the temporary.  God sees the eternal.”  The answer to my prayer was changing me from the inside out because God longs for my heart to align with His. He saw the eternal value in transforming my prayers from simple requests to deep spiritual growth.

How I love God’s deep abiding love for us.  Never settling to leave us the same, rather inviting us to gather at His feet, rely on His wisdom and partner with Him.  Can’t think of a better place to land than fully trusting and leaning on God.

“Father, how tempting it is to resist change in us  and seek our own solutions.  Help us to gather at Your feet and follow Your guidance trusting You completely for the best answer to our prayers.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life