Several weeks ago at church, the sermon was on prayer from Acts 12:1-18. It was an incredible sermon and left me feeling empowered yet with questions and a bit of personal confusion (that I think I have figured out!)
The preacher started by saying that Christians are more superstitious than believers in the supernatural. He suggested that when a prayer is answered exactly the way we want it, we begin to pray that way over and over again for years because we believe that it was the way we prayed the prayer that got it answered the way we want it. It is 100%, definitely safe to say, that is not the case at all. That is our issue with superstition and not our total belief in the supernatural power of God.
He went on to preach about how God always answers our prayers in three major ways- No, Obey, and Yes. Garth Brooks' song saying "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers" is wrong. It is not that our prayers are unanswered. Our prayers are ALWAYS answered. As it says in Hebrews, our lives are held together by the words coming for Jesus' mouth... He ALWAYS answers our prayers.
Sometimes God answers our prayers by saying "No." He says "No" and we have to accept that that is the way it is. No one likes hearing no. Sometimes "no" is the last thing we want. However, as a parent says no to their child, THE Father says no to us as His children. We serve the Sovereign King of the Universe... not Santa clause. He sometimes says "no" because by saying no he leads us to something greater than we could EVER imagine, dream or hope for.
Sometimes God answers our prayers by simply saying Obey. Often we pray for things that we know the answer to-- we pray about things that we should never have to pray about if we would simply obey His word and what He has taught us. In the sermon, the pastor used an example of a man praying about a situation at work where he wondering if he should tell the truth about something going on within the office. In that case, the answer to the prayer is Obey by telling the truth. Obey what God has already told us do through His word, the Bible. The pastor went on to say we also often try to pray ourselves out of a situation we behaved ourselves into. If we obey him and/or when we pray in situations where God's answer is Obey, we must follow what He has said. When we say we are praying about something we already know the answer to, all we are doing is delaying obedience.
Sometimes God say yes when He answers our prayers. That's the answer we like to hear the most. That's the one we love. We all like hearing YES! When He says yes, we get so amazed yet we forget that we serve a Sovereign God who gives His children good gifts. (and He ONLY gives good gifts! (
Matt 7:11))
During the service they played
THIS VERY incredible video about a young staff member, Zac Smith, who has terminal cancer. Zac's video is an incredible testimony of his faith. He points out in the video that sometimes God answers our prayers by saying Yes and that God is God and God is good. When God says "no", Zac reminds us that God is still God and God is still good. To HIM be the glory. Our circumstances do not change His character. He is still the sovereign king of the universe who created every last thing in this world and still knows my name and every last detail about me.
Since that service I have thought about prayers I have prayed, for things that I have wanted and the answers that God gave me. I think about the answered prayer that my dad is winning his battle against cancer. I think about a friend of mine who lost his mom to cancer. I wonder why it has to be that way that my dad is alive but his mom is not. Then I remember it is HIS answer and His glory will be revealed through it all even when it all seems wrong in our earthly minds, His character has not changed and His gift is still good and perfect. I think about
Kate McRae, a 6 year old with cancer who is winning her battle but then my thoughts turn to 2 year old
Layla Grace who recently lost her battle cancer. I think about my friend Joanna, one of the most faithful and wonderful people I have ever met and why she has cancer. I will never know this side of eternity, and maybe ever, why sometimes God answers our prayers with a Yes and why other times His answer is no or even why bad things happen to good people and innocent children. However, I know that every answer is used for HIS glory and will result in something far greater than I could ever hope or imagine and it will ALL be for HIS glory!
To HIM be the Glory!
