Confidence in Who, Not How!

“Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.”

                                                    Daniel 10:12-13

 

You listen anxiously, hanging on every word.

When the testimony of answered prayer being given is completed you say to your spouse: “Wow, I don’t think I have ever heard a more amazing answer to prayer.”

Later that day in your prayer closet you succumb to doubts God will ever answer your prayer. You recall the testimony from earlier in the day and instead of encouragement it somehow seems to deflate your faith.

We have placed our confidence in the “how” and not the “Who”!

Don’t give up because answers come at different times and can require different steps.

Daniel prayed and his answer, as detailed above, was delayed for 21 days.

But he got an answer.

In II Corinthians 12 Paul speaks of asking God three times to remove a “…thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”

God did not remove it.

Rather, He spoke to Paul of His All-sufficient grace working in his life.

Not the answer he was expecting but, nonetheless, he got an answer.

The method and timing of Daniels’ answer was quite different from Pauls'.

Don’t ‘construct’ an answer to your prayer based on the methods or timing of another man’s answer.  

The lessons, the purposes of God for your life, may mean He brings an answer in a time and in a way quite different from another persons’ answer.

Let your faith in answered prayer rest in the “Who” and not in the how!

God knows you better than you know yourself.

That includes how and when best to answer your prayers.

The next time you are “wowed” by someone’s answer to prayer – rejoice with them and bless the Lord for His answer in their life.

But know that it is the same Father in heaven who delights to listen as you pray.

 He delights in working for the good of those who love Him (and that includes how and when he answers your prayers).