Would you like to know, the kind of prayer that obtains “wonderful things” from God?
Our Creator who lives in “Eternity” knows in advance the “wonderful things” He has prepared for us. And each of our prayers already has its answer. However, we live on the earth and our thinking is limited to the notion of time and space. So it is quite understandable that we have difficulty grasping things that happen in eternity.
“Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness
you have done wonderful things,
planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1)
“Wonderful things” done for a B2B salesman
We could talk about John, a business-to-business (B2B) seller of innovative office supply products. He was paid on a commission basis. Sales were very low for the last 3 months. But he encouraged himself in his prayers with the certainty that God’s character is full of goodness. And also reminded God (and himself) of biblical promises such as:
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
John spent many hours during the Christmas season praying but also rejoicing in the “wonderful things” God had prepared for his family.
He knew future (big) sales often pay for the deficits of the past. But money was short, and things were late. He was under a lot of pressure.
But finally the 16th of January 1988 He had such a big day of sales that he could cover the deficits of the 3 preceding months plus have one month of commissions in advance.
So this is an example of the “wonderful things” God had in store for John to restore his financial situation in the context of his profession.
We pray for what we lack
It is true we always pray for what we are lacking. What are the « wonderful things » we pray for?
- Be healed of a cancer or other sickness.
- Find a new job or find a first job
- Succeed with exams or getting a diploma.
- Find the right man or woman to marry
- Or bring new life to a marriage that is floundering
All that is good, and we are happy for a while…
But how many only want the one-time Blessing but not a long-term relationship with He, who is the source of all blessings?
Are we aware of what we are really lacking? And what others really need without being aware of it. Can we discover true power in prayer by discerning what God is really after in someone’s life and praying it into being with Him?
One-time blessing or the most wonderful things that God can offer
What is that « wonderful thing » that God has been preparing since the foundation of the earth? What is His “rescue mission” to save people lost in their materialism? We usually only pray for what we need on this earth. But the Father knows what we really need. Here is a story you might be able to relate to.
« A woman had a husband who was a deacon in his church and a good reputation in the eyes of all.
But at home, he was violent and beat her regularly. After struggling for years between the image of a happy couple and the shame of what was really going on, she finally asked for a divorce. But in the eyes of the church, the victim was at fault because she was the one that chose to leave.
After a while, she remarried a man who respected her and showed her tender love. But he was not a Christian. After several years of a happy marriage, the doctors announced he had terminal cancer and was condemned to die soon…
When the former friends of this woman found out, they added to her sorrow by saying it was God punishing her for her divorce and getting remarried with a non-Christian. And her prayers of her new husband’s salvation seemed to be of no avail. Her distress was immense …
Praying with Jesus for what God really wants
This subject was presented in a prayer meeting with Christians from various denominations. The prayers to comfort the woman were quite feeble. Unfortunately, they were not grasping what the real issue was!
It is not our prayers that make the difference. The prayer that Jesus makes before the Father is what gets an answer. And he always obtains a positive answer. Here is what Jesus said out loud when he was faced Lazarus’s tomb and his grieving sisters.
Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11.41-42)
Does that not give you shivers in your back, to know that Jesus is always heard by the Father?
The Word says in Romans 8:
« Christ Jesus who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.» ! (Verse 34)
«We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us. » (verse 26)
Reminding God (and ourselves) of His promises
So an old man got up in the meeting and reminded God of His own words. And God always honors His word. (We would do well to plead for God’s intervention using His own words in our prayers)!
That God will fight until the last seconds of a man’s life to bring a hesitant man lost in his false reasonings to Him. He is not deciding for Jesus because of his wife or not deciding against Jesus because of hypocrites. He is deciding for his own Eternity. It is amazing how you can question the certainties held during your whole life when facing death!
- And the prayer went on. Even if it seems too late, it never too late for God to intervene.
- It is not God’s will to punish this mistreated woman but on the contrary to save her husband. And to give him peace. « Not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.». (2 Peter 3:9)
- And all those who were present said « Amen”
During the week, the prayer group leaders visited the couple at the hospital. Something had changed. The man confessed that he now knew the Good Shepherd and that he feared no evil in the valley of death for His Presence was with him.». He died several days later.
Pray for the body to be healed? Certainly. But the thoughts of God are often higher than ours…
This kind of answer to prayer is the most « wonderful thing » that God has prepared for those who believe in His Word.
Who will decide to align his prayers on those that Jesus prays for others? You cannot imagine the joy and peace you bring to others when a blocked situation is liberated. In the case of this couple, God transformed their eternal future.
The wonderful things God has prepared for them from the beginning of time
In the place of this woman’s never-ending distress, God gave what he has prepared for them from the beginning of time. Salvation for her husband and peace and joy for her.
If only we could pray a bit better and build our prayers on His will as revealed by His Word.
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,
what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)
That comes from the prophet Isaiah who said
« From ages past, no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for (or count upon) him. (Isaiah 64:4)
So go ahead and tell your story of the “wonderful things” God has done for you.
When are you going to go back to the prayer meeting to intercede together with Jesus and His Word so that he does the wonderful things he has promised in his Word?
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(Day 4) The trial of your faith is worth more
(Day 6) Does your boat need Jesus in it?
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