When you pray do you expect your prayer to be answered? Are you waiting on God and listening for His answer? Let me share one experience of how God answered my prayer.
Recently I was asked to do a talk in front of a large number of women in a couple of months. Now, I’m happy to stand up and sing in front of a crowd any time but speaking is not always such an easy task or comfortable area. But it wasn’t about how I felt about it but about what God wanted me to do.
No matter how comfortable or uncomfortable, I feel about a proposed idea, I never jump in and answer straightaway without praying the matter through. I promised to pray about it, which I did and waited on God to make the answer clear.
As I read God’s Word one morning a verse out of the passage stood out, almost like it was written in neon lights. The verse in question came from my usual daily reading and was in Romans. ‘How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’ Romans 10:14. At that point I knew I had God’s answer.
Sometimes we need to put away self and overcome our own feelings to do what God wants us to.
The passage then went on to say ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!’ Romans 10:15. I became convinced God wanted me to give the message to the ladies, a number of whom normally don’t come to church.
As to the response to the message, that is not up to me. I only have to prepare as best I can and then leave the rest to God. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and helps people understand the message and believe in Jesus. There are always two responses to God’s message, even in Isaiah’s time, Romans 10:16.
Israel knew but largely rejected God’s message and the Savior and so the message went out to the Gentles, Romans 10:18-21. This does not mean God has rejected his people completely for some like the prophets, the disciples and Paul believed.
The reality is people can’t believe unless they hear the message. We won’t know whether people will respond to God or not until we give out the message of hope we have. Is there someone God would have you speak to about Jesus this week? It may not be in a large situation but one to with a friend, neighbor or workmate. Will you pray about it and then take whatever opportunities God provides?
Bible verses from the New American Standard Version
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