Many of us have been praying for things for years and feel like God is taking a long time answering our requests. As tough as the experience is, this is scriptural. After all, David waited over a decade from being anointed king to actually taking the throne. The Book of Psalms is full of His prayers begging God to keep him safe during that waiting period.
But what if I told you that there are times when we think God hasn't answered our prayers but He actually has? You just frowned slightly. You don't believe that you'd ever miss the answer to your prayers if God had answered them, right?
Wrong!
Let me use myself as an example. I have a prayer point that I've been petitioning on for years. I'd settled into thinking it was going to be one of those long haul prayers - that I'd be waiting like Father Abraham for its fulfillment.
However, the Holy Spirit recently used an unrelated verse to show me exactly how the Lord had already done what I asked for.
My initial reaction was to jump up and down, happy to have understanding and know the Lord answered me. Then, I became stunned. I couldn't believe I'd missed it. Listen, He'd answered the request months earlier and I was still enjoying the fulfillment of the prayer. Somehow, I'd ignored the fact that God had done it. I mean, once the Holy Spirit showed me, it was all so clear and frankly, I felt stupid.
I shouldn't have though, because the Lord Himself has said His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). God delights in doing things the way He wants to do things. And it won't necessarily be the way we human beings expect. I simply delight in what He does and praise Him for it. I am content to know that He is mysterious and I can't understand everything He does and why.
Nevertheless, this was a big lesson to be careful. While waiting for something, we can get discontented. In that headspace, we could say or do things to cancel what God has already done for us but we just haven't realized it yet. Again, I would never have realized that God had answered my prayers on my own. It took the Holy Spirit granting insight because God did it for me in a way I could never have imagined. If I had wearied in praying and tired of waiting obediently on God, would I have ever understood that my request was fulfilled? Honestly, I don't know. Regardless, I'm grateful to God that I hung in there and He proved Himself true.
Please learn from my experience. God is answering prayers every day. Sometimes, we just can't see it yet because our human understanding is so limited in comparison to God's. We need Him to show us what He's done.
Habakkuk 2:3 - For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank You for once again bringing Your children together to fellowship with worship and intercession at Your feet. Glory be to You dear Lord.
God, I pray for those who participated and those who will in the future. May they witness Your gracious hand at work in their lives. May they rejoice in You and declare Psalm 118:23 - the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
IJMN, Amen!
LAST 10 MINUTES
Did you read today's post? This might seem like a silly question but I ask because some treat P&P as a 'religious' duty, something to check off their weekly to-do-list. They come, drop a few words and leave, not actually reading the message, worshipping or praying for others (either on their own or with others).
However, P&P allows us an opportunity to do the above and then enjoy the benefit of praying in agreement at this stage of the fellowship hour. I pray that we will not deprive ourselves of the resulting benefits, IJMN, Amen.
That said, if you did read today's post, now is your chance to think of the times you might have been blinded to God's fulfilment of your prayers. This could have happened because that was simply how the Lord wanted it or because you weren't attuned to the Lord and what He was doing.
Whatever the case may be, let us 'hold hands' to pray on the issue:
Lord, thank You for Your mercy and Your grace. Forgive me for those moments where I ignored Your answers to my prayers. I repent for this and call on You to help me see and hear the ways You are working in my life.
Father, I cannot do this without You and ask for grace to remain in-tune with You so I catch what You are doing, acknowledge Your might, rejoice and testify to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
Praise the Living God!
Dear Lord, the Rock of Salvation,
I come before You to pray for salvation. I bring up Your word in 2 Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance".
My King, in honor of Your word, please rain down Your salvation upon the earth. Remember the souls that the enemy has captive because they aren't saved. Have mercy Lord. Remember the sighing of the prisoners. Remember Your word that even the captives of the mighty will be delivered and the prey of the terrible will be set free.
Have mercy oh Lord, in Jesus name! amen.
Good God, You are the Almighty. Nobody compares to You. Father, please hear my prayer for people that they come to a knowledge of You as You promised in Jeremiah 24:7. Please give people a desire for You. Whet their appetites for more of You. Let hearts clamor for You. Pour out Your Spirit on all mankind in accordance with Your word in Joel 2:28. Be glorified, Lord our Redeemer, IJMN, Amen.
Praise God.
I have a testimony from this morning, after I read OP's testimony about how God has answered her prayer point. I decided to give it a try, and asked the Holy Spirit to show me how God has answered my prayers. Instantly, I was reminded of something that's been going on for months (success in business ventures) and realized it's been God fulfilling one of His promises (about finances). Thank You God, truly You have _already_ done it! All Your words are yes and amen. You have the power to do everything You have promised, Lord!
Lord, I come against every weapon of the enemy blinding Your people from seeing Your mighty hand in their lives. I come against every tool of the devil working to block the ears of Your children from experiencing and knowing You in the fullness of all You are.
The Savior Himself came to destroy the works of satan (1 John 3:8). I stand on that word and declare that the hidden works of the enemy are rendered powerless in the lives of those who You allow this prayer to touch. Mountains disintegrate into smooth walkways. Gates are destroyed. Shackles are broken. Every weapon forged fails to prosper.
I thank You for You have proven over and over that the enemy is less than nothing and as such Your purpose and plan for people will not be thwarted, IJMN, Amen.
*From BI* - Lord, we know of Your love for children as You declared the kingdom of God belongs to them. Lord, bring comfort and healing to sick children. I pray that by Your mercy, they feel no pain during their ordeal. I pray that You lay Your healing hands on little ones and cure every illness that afflicts them. Shield them from suffering and let them feel the warmth of Your love. Grant strength and calmness to their caregivers. I trust that by Your stripes Lord, sick children are healed and will live to declare Your goodness IJMN Amen.
Secure the fulfilment of Your people's prayers, dear Lord. The enemy wants Your children to feel You don't hear or answer their petitions.
However, the Bible makes it clear that You delight in answering the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:8). May Your people come to know You as the Prayer-Answering God (Psalm 138:3). May they come to rejoice in You as they see Your mighty hand at work in their lives.
Thank You Father for I know You hear me. You always hear me. And as I know You answer those prayers You hear, thank You for fulfilling this request, IJMN, Amen.
PRAYER TIME
Over the next 25 minutes, let us put our personal needs to the side and lift up prayers for others.
Please pray as if you were praying for yourself. Be sure to pray with zeal because we are told in Romans 12:11 - Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Remember, we emulate Jesus as well as others in the Bible when we do this. Intercessors pushed down their wants and desires to lift other people's issues up to the Lord. On more than one occasion, Moses put himself between the Lord and the Israelites, begging Him not to destroy them. That's what we're about to do - place ourselves between God and our fellow man. We need to ask God to look on us favorably and thereby answer our petitions for our prayer subjects.
May the Lord hear and answer us, to His glory and by His grace, IJMN, Amen.
Almighty King, thank You for Your light. It shines forever. You light the way Lord, and I follow.
Thank You.
Glory to the Sovereign Lord who is and was and will be.
Father I praise You for mercy and Your grace upon my loved ones.
Thank You for the opportunity to celebrate and glorify You.
Please take all the glory!
*From BI* - Thank You Lord for the safe return of my colleague who has been visiting her homeland. I thank You for Your continuous presence in the life of JO, every breath he takes is because of Your mercy and grace. May Your Name be praised forever.
Thank You, God.
Thank You Lord for all Your kindness and love.
Thank You for all Your mercy.
Thank You for Your grace.
You are wonderful!
*From BI* - Thank You Messiah for Your ultimate sacrifice. Because of You, there is hope for my soul. I thank You Jesus for this day and all You went through because of Your boundless love for me. Thank You for enduring so I can have eternal life. I praise, glorify and adore Your Holy Name, my Saviour and Risen King. Hallelujah!
*From AC* - Blessed Good Friday Peppers! May the grace of our Saviour shine upon you all this Holy Week and Resurrection weekend. I won’t be live posting at noon, but will be praising and praying intercessions from where I am. God’s peace and blessings be with you all!
Father God, we welcome You into this place. Envelope us with Your presence as we worship You this day.
For You alone are worthy.
You alone are to be glorified.
Praise be to You our King!!
Hallelujah!
*From AC* - Father in Heaven, in Jesus’ name, we praise Your Holiness and majesty and thank You for this day of remembrance you have made! We have been saved and sanctified by a risen Saviour, and so we rejoice and are glad in Him. Thank You King Jesus, for enduring the cross to set us free from eternal damnation. Thank You that through Your sacrifice, we are reconciled with our Almighty Father. Thank You that by Your wounds we are healed and delivered. Thank You that sin and death have been defeated and that Your Power is everlasting. Glory Hallelujah IT IS FINISHED! All Victory belongs to You! Amen
PRAISE TIME
Time for us to abandon ourselves in worship to God Almighty.
Let your heart rejoice in praise to the Lord.
Cry out from the depths from your heart. By now, you should have spirit filled music playing or you should be singing in raucous praise!!!
*From CUR* - Happy Good Friday Peppers! I will be out running some errands but I am worshipping and praising God as I do it! Enjoy your Resurrection weekend and be safe!
*From CS* - Lord, thank you for this beautiful night and for allowing me to see it. Thank you, God - infinite in wisdom, goodness, and love - for being. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayers. “Who is like unto thee?”
Thank you Holy Spirit for inspiring my prayers and also reminding me TO pray.
Thank you Lord Jesus for your sacrifice in spite of my faults. “With my whole heart, I have sought You.” With all that I have within, I seek you. I believe, Lord. Please, help me in my unbelief.