Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtOne summer, my daughter and her family, who were missionaries in Peru, came home to Minnesota to visit us. They stayed for a month, and it was probably my favorite month of the year. Having them here was an absolute slice of Heaven.One beautiful summer evening, my granddaughter Macy and I went out for a walk. She was seven years old at the time. She was telling me about something she really wanted, and I asked her if she had prayed about it yet. She hadn't, so I said, Come on, Macy, let’s pray about that right now. There was a bench along the walking path we were on, and so we sat down. Just as I was about to pray, Macy looked up at me with almost a sad look and said, Papa, I don’t think God always hears my prayers.
I looked at her and asked, Macy, why do you think that? She responded I've prayed and asked Him for some things lately, and it doesn't seem like He cares. I put her on my lap, wrapped my arms around her, and said, I want to give you a big hug. I gave her a big squeeze and said, Now let me tell you something. I love you more than I can find words to describe. When I hug you, it's like eating a meal but still feeling hungry. I can never get enough. That's how I feel when I hug you. Do you know why I feel that way? I feel that way because I love you so much! She said, I love you too, Papa. I paused and then replied, Okay, but here is the deal. As much as I love you, my love could never compare to how much God loves you. He loves you even more. Sometimes, I wish I could spend every minute I have with you when you visit me, but I can't because I get busy with things at church. But God, He never gets too busy. He's God! He can think about and love each one of us at all times, no matter how many of us there are. That’s what makes Him God and why His love is so great! I continued, And you know what? He always hears your prayers. Always! She looked up at me and said, Papa, then why doesn't He answer everything I ask? He does, Macy, I told her. It’s just that you think He is going to answer your prayers in a particular way, and He does in an even better way. That means it’s not always going to happen when and how you expect it. So, you better keep your faith and trust turned on and your eyes open because you will see your answer come if you keep expecting. It will simply be better than what you even asked for, no matter when it comes!
So let me ask you... Do you ever feel like Macy did? Do you question whether God heard your prayers and cares? Do you understand that the primary way God brings blessings to us, including answers to prayer, is through people? His people are called the church. Anytime you have people involved, God works to influence their hearts, leading them to respond to His direction. When they do, prayers are answered quickly. When they don’t, God looks for other people or other ways to answer your prayers. He's answering your prayers but wants to work through people to bring you your answer! God will work through angels or independently of people if He has to, but if you read His word, you'll see time and time again that He desires to use people. He likes to do things in a way that is far beyond what we could ask or think. Look at the following verses and see these three things: First: God uses people—His church. He does this so that they can be an extension of Him and so that He will be glorified and draw more people to Himself. Secondly: See that the Lord works in a way that is beyond what we ask or think. Third: See that He responds to people exercising obedience to His leading by faith.Ephesians 3:20-21 (NLT) "Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. GLORY TO HIM IN THE CHURCH and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen."Matthew 9:1-8 (NIV) "Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. SOME MEN brought to Jesus a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven…” “…then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.”
Luke 18:8 (NIV) "...However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Does God care, and is He paying attention? If this is a question for you, go get away into a quiet place, approach the Lord, and let Him put His arms around you and tell you how much He loves you. His Words of love for us are all through the Bible. And He affirms time and time again that prayers of faith move Him. As you read the miracles, you'll see God does things in a way that is outside of their thinking or box. You just need to quit putting Him in a box and let Him be God and answer you in ways that are beyond what you could ask or think and in His timing! Never let go of your faith! And always know you are loved so much that Jesus took the cross for you! (And us all!)Let me add this P.S. Macy is in Bible College on a scholarship and being used mightily of God. And God is still answering her prayers in powerful ways!1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him. In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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