Recognizing Answered Prayers

“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”    —Mark 2:5

Richard Blackaby tells a story of a time in college when God answered his prayer almost immediately, but he did not recognize the answer when it came. Blackaby was experiencing an exceptionally moving devotional time meditating on the suffering servant passage of Isaiah 53. As he read about the rejection, anguish, and obedience of the servant, he was stirred to pray, “Lord, I want to be that kind of a disciple. I will be your suffering servant, today. If you have a difficult task, a hard to reach person, I’m your man.”

As Blackaby continued communing with the Lord, the phone rang. His roommate answered and spoke with a college acquaintance that wanted to come over and hang out for the evening. This person was a complete social misfit. He found himself severely challenged in social settings and had few friends. One time, trying to fit in and join a conversation, he blurted out, “I haven’t brushed my teeth in two weeks.” As the roommate conveyed the request, Blackaby told him how busy he was and what a wonderful devotional time he was having with the Lord. He asked him to make excuse for him. With a wink of the eye, the roommate conveyed his regrets.

Back to praying, Blackaby asked the Lord, “Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Oh yes, I was telling you, Lord, if you have a difficult assignment, a hard to reach person, You can call on me. I want to be a suffering servant kind of disciple.” When we pray, it is important that we make the connection between our prayers and what happens next. God may answer our prayers immediately in exactly the way we prayed. At other times, God may answer our prayers in a higher, more glorious fashion. We must practice spiritual concentration to recognize God’s answers.

Sometimes we pray for one thing and receive another. On occasion, the Lord may appear to be busy or “out of town” as His answers are delayed. In these cases, God may be trying to provoke us to persist in prayer. We must keep praying until we receive what we are asking for or something better. Mark 2 tells of the account of four men who brought their crippled friend to Jesus to be healed. Because of the large crowd, they opened a hole in the roof of the house and let the man down in front of Jesus. Their prayer must have been, “Lord, please heal our friend.” Jesus did not immediately answer that prayer but said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).

In this passage, we discover a wonderful truth. The four men asked for one thing, and Jesus gave them another! They prayed for physical healing, but Jesus wanted to make the man a child of God for all eternity so he could inherit everything! I remember a minister friend of mine, Rev. Jay Christner, saying, “God always gives us what we ask for or something better.” The challenge is to watch carefully in order to recognize the answers to our prayer when they come.

If you have been earnestly praying for a specific need, make the connection between your prayers and what happens next. If God does not seem to be answering your prayer as you expect, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the answers the Lord is sending. God may want you to persist in prayer. The timing may not be right. God may be developing your character. God may also be giving you something better. Whatever the situation, may the Holy Spiritual give you spiritual insight to recognize answered prayers.

When God Seems Late

“Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”    —John 11:40

A close friend called me the other day to ask for some assistance with a flat tire. She had stopped at the local convenience store/gas station, but the air pump was broken. I immediately dropped what I was doing and ran to help change her tire. On the way, a local tow truck passed me, and I sensed God saying, “You don’t need to change the tire. Simply go to the closest garage and borrow a portable tank of air.” The local garage had a tank that worked like a charm. I was back to my morning schedule after only a few minutes.

If you were caught in a crisis, who would you call? You would probably call someone you felt close to and who would come at a moment’s notice. Mary and Martha were close friends with Jesus. Jesus often stayed at their home in Bethany while visiting Jerusalem. When their brother, Lazarus, was deathly sick, they called Jesus to come and heal Him. The sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” (John 11:3). Something very surprising happened: Jesus waited two whole days before coming to the aid of His friend “whom He loved.”

Jesus arrived four days after Lazarus’ death. I often wonder what Jesus’ absence must have felt like to His beloved friends. Have you ever prayed for God to answer in a time of crisis? Have you waited and waited in fear and agony with no apparent reply? What do we understand about God’s silence? What does one do when God seems late?

In the Experiencing God study (120), Henry Blackaby urges us to settle in our minds that God has forever demonstrated His unfailing love for us on the cross. That love will never change. When God appears to be silent, we often jump to the conclusion that God has forgotten or forsaken us. We may feel God doesn’t care about us or that God is angry and punishing us because of sin.

There are a couple possible reasons for God’s silence when we pray. Firstly, there may be unconfessed sin in our lives. Secondly, God may be preparing us for a greater revelation. This was the case with Lazarus. Jesus told the disciples, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it” (11:4). Jesus repeated to Mary, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (11:40). As Lazarus and his sisters waited in silent fear and pain, Jesus prepared to display His glory through their lives. A few moments later, Jesus “cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth’” (11:43). Some Christians believe if Jesus hadn’t said Lazarus’ name, every dead person in the world would have come back to life.

If you have been praying and waiting and questioning, anchor your life in the certainty of God’s love for you. Ask Him to search your heart. If the Holy Spirit reveals any hidden sin, turn from that sin and ask for the forgiveness that Jesus purchased for you on the Cross. If God remains silent and seems to be late, then prepare yourself for a new experience with the Lord. God may be preparing you for a greater revelation of Himself. Jesus may be about to call forth your name.

Remember, if God seems late, it’s for a reason only His Love can explain.

Small Acts of Faith

“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”    

—Acts 3:6

Arthur was a machinist who had a wife, family, and home but lost it all due to his drinking. He found himself in a line to receive free sandwiches with other homeless folk in the lower east side of Manhattan. Even as a small fight broke out among those waiting in line, the volunteer looked Arthur straight in the eye, said a kind word, and handed him a sandwich. Arthur broke down in tears to such a degree that they called the pastor to come and speak with him.

The pastor moved Arthur to a park bench nearby where he shared his story of losing his job, wife, family, car, and home. That day, Arthur prayed to receive Christ and got up from the bench a changed man. Although he eventually ended up in prison, Arthur never lost his faith in Christ and led several inmates to the Lord. Eventually, Arthur was released from prison, moved to upstate New York, and now works for a Christian ministry.

What made the difference in Arthur’s life? Arthur said it was a peanut butter sandwich and a kind word that was spoken to him. Someone treated him with dignity and kindness. I never cease to be amazed at how delicate and fragile human life is. One minute we can be cruising along, then a phone call or momentary slip later our lives have completely changed. I am equally amazed at the power of a small act of kindness done in faith. Mother Teresa once said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” 

As Peter and John went up to the temple to pray, they came to a lame man asking for money. They had surely seen this beggar before. He had probably become part of the temple furnishings to many persons by this time, but this day was completely different. Peter and John looked him straight in the eye and engaged him in conversation, “Look at us!” they said. The beggar expected to receive some money, but Peter had none. Peter gave him everything he had; he gave him Jesus. “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The healing miracle was definitely not a simple act, but stopping to notice someone, speaking to them, and offering to pray are simple acts, if done in faith, that can transform a life.

There are many Bible stories we teach our children that reflect the power of small acts done in faith. A young slave girl comments that a prophet in Israel could heal her master of leprosy. The Syrian General, Naaman, is healed and God is glorified (2 Kings 5). A small boy shares his sack lunch of two fish and five biscuits with Jesus. Jesus is praised and a crowd of 5,000 men (not counting woman and children) are fed (Matt 6).

Think about how many persons you pass everyday without noticing. Do you realize how fragile and broken their lives are? You may never know how thin the thread is that they are hanging on by. You will never know the difference a friendly look, a kind word, or a small act of kindness done in faith will do unless you stop, look, and act. You may not have great wealth, but give what you have. Give them Jesus. Small acts done in faith with great love will transform lives. Why not give it a try.

Privileged View

“Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see.”    

—Luke 10:23

Alex Haley, the author of Roots, has a picture in his office showing a turtle sitting on top of a fence post. The picture reminds him of a very important lesson: “If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he had some help.” Haley felt indebted to the great leaders who had gone before him paving the way for his success. Sir Isaac Newton reflects this same sentiment in a letter to his rival Robert Hooke, in 1676, “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

This past week, I was privileged to attend a men’s gathering near Pittsburgh. The United Methodist Men partnered with Christian Sports International to put on an event with former Steeler greats Jon Kolb, Jeff Hartings, and Robin Cole. After being introduced by the MC, Tom McGough, Robin Cole stood and looked over the less than 100 men gathered and remarked, “You guys are spoiled. You don’t realize what a privilege it is to have this lineup of speakers. This place should be packed.” The event had it all: great planning, a great lineup, and a powerful Christian message, but few took advantage of the opportunity.

Jesus appointed seventy others to go out in pairs to minister in every city He Himself planned to go (Luke 10:1). After commissioning the seventy, Jesus declared judgment upon the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum because of their unbelief. The woes Jesus pronounced were not merely for lack of faith but for unbelief in face of the privileged position of seeing many miracles preformed in their midst. With blessing comes responsibility and accountability.

When the seventy returned from their ministry tour, they joyfully related to Jesus how even the demons were subject to them in His name. Jesus celebrated with them rejoicing in the Holy Spirit that God had revealed these things to them.  Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice so much in ministry successes as in their relationship with God. “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven” (10:20).

From a relationship with God the Father through Jesus, we and the disciples, have the awesome privilege of seeing and understanding things of the Kingdom that Old Testament prophets and kings longed to see and hear. Jesus’ comments pertained to the seventy but also to us today, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see” (Luke 10:23). If we have experienced the forgiveness that Jesus offers, if we have a family, a church family, a home, and food, we are tremendously blessed above most people of the world and all of history. What a privilege.

Jesus told the disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12). With a privileged view, standing on the shoulders of giants, comes great responsibility and opportunity. Many of us have become near-sighted in our view of the world and the Kingdom of God. God wants to show us many more great and miraculous things. We need our eyes opened to see where God is working and plans to work in the world. Seeing from a privileged view calls us to follow. What have you done with God’s blessings? What will you do? Open our eyes, Lord, and let us see from Your shoulders.