God does not merely want to answer our prayers; He wants to spend time with us to prepare us for the answers that will come. ~ Day 11, Awake21.org
While we are waiting and praying for the answers we seek from God, He is preparing our hearts, our minds, and our lives to receive the answer. Matthew 13:8 says, "Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." As we pray more and seek more and expectantly wait, our prayers are answered in increasing measure. God does not want us to fall into sin or temptation. That is why when we pray, God may not answer our prayers the first time, the first seven times, or even the first 100 times. Why? Because He is preparing our lives to receive.
Waiting is never a fun or easy task. But the Bible says we are to do more than "wait around." We are to "wait with expectation." Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that wait," which is the Hebrew word qavah, meaning, "to wait, look for, hope, expect," (blueletterbible.org). So they that wait with great expectation will have their strength renewed; "they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint." As you're praying and waiting, wait with great expectation. Otherwise, what's the reason for praying?
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:4
This is wonderful! I am at a point in my life, where I have to understand exactly this - what you wrote. Waiting with expectations - knowing that God's answer will be the right one for me...and will come. That thingswill turnout for the best.
ReplyDeleteFunny: I was actually getting google alerts about Arnold Schwarzeneggers's Movie "With Wings as Eagles". That's how I received your fantastic post. Thanks! Frank.