Not Finished Yet - I Am a Work In Progress - Be Patient With Me

There are many prayers offered to God and we often wonder what kind of prayers does God really answers? What are the secrets of answered prayers? What gets God attention?

I know many of you pray. Some of you - when tragedy hits close will cry a “please help God”, others when something excited is happening in your life will say a “thank you God” and some of you are praying daily. It’s part of your religious routine: morning prayer, before meal prayer, evening prayer … you do it without thinking. And some of you are prayer warriors who can spend countless hours on their knees to pray for others and themselves with sincere hearts and expectations from God.

I personally pray a lot. I pray short prayers, when someone asks to pray for them I do it right away. Over the years I learned that we ought to ask, for everything … because Jesus said: ask and it will be given to you, but we ought to ask according to God’s will. Jesus showed us this when in the Gethsemane he was able to say: Father, not my will, but yours … these are some of the hardest words we can say, if we really mean them. It’s not easy to give up our will, totally surrender and unconditionally trust God - but it’s possible. It will never be easy, but as you get to know God better and better you will know that he wants your very best and it will be easier to give up control over your life.

Yet in my journey with God, I noticed that God will always answer those prayers that come from heart and they are longings to know Him more, prayers which will help us grow in faith.

1. God answers prayers when we want to know Him more and grow in faith …

I will never forget, the night a group of ladies met at a gathering and we were seeking God to show us where and how we can go to be His extended hands. After God revealed his will, we were in small groups taking about details. I was part of the group who had to take care of the food. And there was this lady – Sue Keddy who was the organizer of this event. And as we were planning, we realized that we ought to plan few meals at different venues, without knowing how many people will attend. It could be from 30 to 500. I’m a planner. I need to know the exact numbers. How can you plan meals without having any idea of how many people will show up, without having any budget (we were pending on peoples voluntary giving)? … and I remember Sue, she was so confident and calm and she said several times to our kitchen staff, don’t worry God knows who will show up that night at those events and what we need to provide for those people … but she said this with a voice that was confident and she KNEW without doubt that God WILL provide. Then she went on to tell us how God moved in her life many times and she saw multiplication and provision the way I only read in the Bible. As I was listening to her, and I remember I prayed: God I want what she has, that confidence in you, that deep understanding and knowledge about you, that personal closeness.

Well, I had no idea what was I praying about … to know God the way Sue knew God you have to go through circumstances where you can count on God and God only. I wasn’t thinking about that, but I guess God was smiling when I prayed that prayer. He knew I didn’t know what was I praying about, but he did, and he did answer that prayer. We went through some really really rough times, when God provided in miraculous ways. There were times when he made a way, when it seemed to be no way. These where the circumstances when I got to know my God from face to face. Today, I have a confidence in Him what I didn’t have years ago. I KNOW that he is my Father and he cares for me and He is my provider. I KNOW, because I been in situations when I didn’t have nobody, but God … and is true, you will know that God is more than enough, when you have nothing left but God.

I don’t like uncertainties, but I know God, who is in control and who holds my life in His hands and I trust Him. He will NEVER leave me, and He cares for me. And He cares for you too.

2. God answers prayers when we are ready to face the truth about ourselves …

I remember when I was praying to God to show me how he sees me … well, that was one of those prayers too, I had no idea what was I praying about … God did answer … he showed me how he sees me … all the mistakes, and shortcomings that I didn’t want to see … It was so harsh I cried three days because I just couldn’t believe what I saw … but he surrounded me with His undeserved grace and showed me that He knew everything about me, yet He still choose me.

If you sincerely ask God to show you how he sees you … be prepared … When you look into the mirror or truth He will show you all that needs to be changed to be able to be used for His glory.

3. God answers prayers when we want His presence more than anything …

After I lost my baby daughter, friends and family was surrounding us and comforting us what I really appreciated. But I remember the Wednesday evening when a friend dropped off some food and when they left I broke down in pieces and cried to God: I’m so thankful for people’s kindness and love, but God I NEED to hear from you … and He did answer that prayer. That night online I heard a message in which Louie Gigglio talked about challenging times, and the message was based on John 16:33

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

God reminded me, that while I’m here … I will have many sorrows and trials … But I’m not alone, and that the victory is already won. Jesus is alive, and he already overcame the world.

I don’t know about you … but we often have long prayer lists, and it’s OK. God wants us to share our every little detail, concern and wish, he wants to be our best friend, and he cares about every little detail of our life. He even counts the hair on our head. It blows my mind that the creator of the Universe cares so much about us. But I noticed that when I pray the prayers that will allow God to move in my personal life beyond the surface and change the things needs to be changed … Those prayers get God’s attention in a different way.

There were times when I was afraid to pray some prayers because I was afraid to give up the things I liked … and when I did, God did challenged me. I want you to know that God hears your prayers, he want to move in your life in amazing ways, but he will never move further then how much you allow Him. Giving total control over your life, without extreme pain … is not real surrender. Don’t play with your words, because God knows your heart.

One evening while I was ironing and listening to Christmas music, I prayed for many things … Oh the list was soooo long, my desires, my goals, my dreams, my wants … and at the end … I bowed down, broke down in tears … and said … if I would say that the things I asked are not important, or I didn’t really want them, I would lie … but more than anything God, this Christmas I want to see you face to face, in a way I never saw you before … and I know this prayer will be answered. Because I know I could have all those things from the list, all my dreams come true, but if I don’t have God, if I don’t feel His presence, if I can’t hear His voice … it would be an empty celebration. Without God even if you have it all, you have nothing.

I love Him deeply and even thou there are many challenges and circumstances I would off never choose to go through I’m forever thankful that in those times, I get to know Him the way I know Him today. I’m not afraid of my future anymore; I don’t panic when life is out of control, because I know that HE is in control.

I often tell God: God you either change a person, circumstance, situation or you change me: my attitude toward those people, circumstances and situations. And you know what? God often starts with me … before he changes a person, he changes my attitude, he fills me with grace, forgiveness, and love so that I can see that person the way He sees them … trust me sometimes it’s all I need. Sometimes God might not change a circumstance but gives me enough strength to face each day to go through that circumstance … and there are times when I see His supernatural favor is absolute amazing ways. When we pray, we ought to ask boldly with sincere hearts, but we have to let God be God, and let Him choose his own ways, because he knows what our best is. Ask Him, but Trust Him enough to give Him control over the outcomes.

What is your personal experience when you prayed to God? Have you asked Him anything what you haven’t really grasp what you are asking for? What was the outcome of your prayers? Is anything you would want me to pray for you?