I recently heard the expression “Prepare for what you’ve prayed for.” The statement seems simple enough, but the depth of the concept is a little overwhelming!
When it comes to prayer, what we have been asking God for? His favor? His direction? His strength? Are we ready to actually receive what we’ve asked Him for? Let’s just explore these examples together:
God’s favor – favor comes as a result of obedience and faithfulness. It is the result of knowing God can do what you’ve asked and trusting that He will. God pours His favor over those with a heart tender towards His promptings and a willingness to believe He can work through them for His glory. Are we currently being faithful and obedient as we wait on His response? Or do we feel frustrated when He doesn’t lavish favor over us even when we aren’t doing our part?
God’s direction – this prayer can sometimes feel elusive. We want clarity, a road map, that will show us a definitive way to go and how things will turn our when we get there. We hope for a neon sign to light the way, but are we walking down the road in faith? Do we move ahead trusting God will provide clarity as we need it? Or do we stand still and wait for the whole picture before we move?
God’s strength – this prayer is so much heavier (pun intended) than we can fathom! To pray for God’s strength is to allow God’s trials. How do you develop strong muscles? You lift heavy things! You stretch them and test them until they are strong enough to handle the load. And then… you increase the load! When we cry out to God for an infusion of strength, we acknowledge that He can handle far more than we could ever handle alone. How do we currently respond when God tests us? Do we sit down and give up? Or do we lift the load knowing we are being refined to carry even more?
Prayer is not only an intimate conversation with the Creator of the Universe, it is an invitation for God to enter your heart, mind, and soul in effort to prepare us for the things we are praying for. This should make us stop and consider what we are praying for and if we are willing to do our part to receive the harvest.
God is faithful to address our prayers in His time and for His purpose. How many times have we waited on God when, in truth, He is waiting on us? He waits for us to be obedient to His promptings. He waits for our faith to increase. He waits for us to be still and listen. He waits for us to step up and try. But when we do… we better be prepared for His glory!
Be blessed,
Jennifer
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 29:12-14a