January 31 ~ 1 John 5:14-15
We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are sure that our prayers have already been answered.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever been talking to someone – either in person or on the phone – and you realized that they were not listening to you at all. They had tuned you out and were “somewhere else.” Maybe you got a cursory “yeah,” or “uh-huh” once in a while, but you knew they weren’t really listening. You might have even stopped and said, “You’ve not heard a word I’ve said!”
The cool thing is that God NEVER tunes us out. We can ramble… we can rant… we can talk about everything and nothing at all… and He listens. He sifts through the nonsense and hears our true needs and desires… and He answers them according to His will for our lives. With people, we may not know whether they are listening and paying attention to us… but with God, we know He always listens. And when we listen to God and follow His plans for our lives… live in a way that honors Him and serves others in His name... the doors of Heaven open and God pours out answers and blessings we can’t begin to imagine.
Are you listening to God? Are you asking Him for what is pleasing… and are you acting in a way that honors Him? Are you experiencing the full measure of God’s blessings in your life, or are you “somewhere else?” Prayer works – especially when we are humble, faithful, and truly listening to God. Are you paying attention to the details of your relationship with Him these days?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label answers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label answers. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 30, 2010
January 30 ~ 1 John 3:22
He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When you were a kid, I bet your parents told you, “If you eat all of your vegetables, you can have dessert.” For my sister, brother, and I, it was “You can’t have any iced tea (sweetened, of course!) until you drink all of your milk!” When we were obedient, we got the reward.
I have heard more than one person say, “I don’t know why God doesn’t answer me. I’ve prayed and prayed, but He just has not answered.” Here’s the thing... I don’t mean to judge others, but in most cases where someone said this to me, they were asking God for help, but they were not obedient – nor pleasing – to Him in some way. Maybe they were asking for help with personal finances, but they were not willing to give back… by way of money to the church, contributions to charity, or even physical service to others. Or worse, they did not manage well with the money they had. Now let me tell you something… God doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t really even need our help or our “service.” But giving to God and to others is a sign of our obedience to Him – and managing our budget well pleases Him. And when we are not willing to serve Him – or a good steward of His blessings, He may not completely withhold what we ask for… but He surely isn’t in any hurry to provide it!
Have you ever had someone ask you to pray for their health – heart disease, high blood pressure, maybe – and yet they were physically out of shape, may even smoked, and ate all the wrong things? Or maybe you know someone who is diabetic but refuses to eat properly, exercise and do the things to help control their disease… but they want God to “fix them.” The Bible tells us our bodies are temples… and that they belong to God. When we are not good stewards of His property, we can’t expect God to be ready to jump out and bless us or heal what we have damaged!
I am not saying God doesn’t answer prayers – nor am I saying that God’s answers come with conditions. I’m just saying that God has tremendous blessings He wants to give us… but He has to see some evidence that we are obedient and willing servants before He pours out His abundance. He will always meet our basic needs, according to His will… and that may not suit us! But it will be the right thing for us, whether we realize it or not. But if you want to see some awesome, amazing, incredible work and blessings in your life, start serving God completely and in full obedience and submission. Figure out (by prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with faithful believers) what God wants you to do… how He wants you to conduct your life in every area… and get busy doing so! Watch the outpouring of answers to prayers… and see for yourself what a difference it can make!
©2009 Debbie Robus
He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When you were a kid, I bet your parents told you, “If you eat all of your vegetables, you can have dessert.” For my sister, brother, and I, it was “You can’t have any iced tea (sweetened, of course!) until you drink all of your milk!” When we were obedient, we got the reward.
I have heard more than one person say, “I don’t know why God doesn’t answer me. I’ve prayed and prayed, but He just has not answered.” Here’s the thing... I don’t mean to judge others, but in most cases where someone said this to me, they were asking God for help, but they were not obedient – nor pleasing – to Him in some way. Maybe they were asking for help with personal finances, but they were not willing to give back… by way of money to the church, contributions to charity, or even physical service to others. Or worse, they did not manage well with the money they had. Now let me tell you something… God doesn’t need our money. He doesn’t really even need our help or our “service.” But giving to God and to others is a sign of our obedience to Him – and managing our budget well pleases Him. And when we are not willing to serve Him – or a good steward of His blessings, He may not completely withhold what we ask for… but He surely isn’t in any hurry to provide it!
Have you ever had someone ask you to pray for their health – heart disease, high blood pressure, maybe – and yet they were physically out of shape, may even smoked, and ate all the wrong things? Or maybe you know someone who is diabetic but refuses to eat properly, exercise and do the things to help control their disease… but they want God to “fix them.” The Bible tells us our bodies are temples… and that they belong to God. When we are not good stewards of His property, we can’t expect God to be ready to jump out and bless us or heal what we have damaged!
I am not saying God doesn’t answer prayers – nor am I saying that God’s answers come with conditions. I’m just saying that God has tremendous blessings He wants to give us… but He has to see some evidence that we are obedient and willing servants before He pours out His abundance. He will always meet our basic needs, according to His will… and that may not suit us! But it will be the right thing for us, whether we realize it or not. But if you want to see some awesome, amazing, incredible work and blessings in your life, start serving God completely and in full obedience and submission. Figure out (by prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with faithful believers) what God wants you to do… how He wants you to conduct your life in every area… and get busy doing so! Watch the outpouring of answers to prayers… and see for yourself what a difference it can make!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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