How to Unlock Quick Answers to Your Prayers
Welcome back, my faithful Bezzies,
The Kingdom of God is filled with profound mysteries, and uncovering them has the power to transform lives in remarkable ways. One of the greatest mysteries I’ve discovered is the key to receiving swift answers to prayer. Join me on this journey as we explore these divine truths together and unlock the secrets to a deeper, more powerful prayer life.
The Ministry of Jesus
Jesus Christ spent three and a half years on earth fulfilling His earthly ministry: preaching the gospel, teaching with authority, casting out demons, and healing the sick. His ministry took on a new role after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. Now, He is our eternal intercessor, advocating for us before the Father. This intercessory ministry continues to be a vital aspect of His work as He mediates on behalf of humanity, offering grace and redemption to all who believe. Romans 8:34 says, “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” God gets the attention of anyone who joins Christ in this intercession ministry.
Hard work in the middle of oppression
In Judges 6, the Midianites were empowered to oppress the nation of Israel because they had wronged the Lord. The Midianites would destroy any investment Israel would venture into, being crops or livestock. Amid such intense oppression, Gideon went out to thresh wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites; while working, he encountered an angel. Judges 6:12-13 reads
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
Overcoming the "me" Syndrome
Let’s examine the text closely. When the angel appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” From a grammatical perspective, the angel spoke in the first person singular, using “you” to refer directly to Gideon, who was in the second person singular. Logically, Gideon’s response should have been, “If God is with me.” However, instead of focusing on himself, Gideon replied, “If God is with us.” This subtle but profound shift shows that, even though the angel addressed Gideon personally, Gideon’s concern extended beyond his well-being to that of his entire nation.
Sometimes, all it takes to get an answer to our prayer is to take a moment and pray for someone whose breakthrough will not affect us directly. We need to strive to overcome the “me” syndrome. Every prayer we pray should not always be about us.
The answer to our prayer may be directed toward someone else
Again, in Matthew 18:19, Jesus said, “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven“. Notice in this passage that the Bible uses “two of you,” which is a second-person plural, to refer to those asking in prayer. However, it then shifts to “them,” which is third person plural, representing those who receive the answers. This suggests that while you may be the one praying, the answers or blessings are directed toward others. This highlights a more profound truth: sometimes, our prayers are answered not for our benefit but for the benefit of others around us.
Sometimes, we may not receive a direct response to our prayer because the answers may be directed to someone else. Therefore, we must thank God for answering our prayers regardless of whether we can see the results.
Conclusion
In conclusion, prayer is not merely a personal dialogue with God; it’s a powerful act of mediation that can extend beyond our needs. As Gideon demonstrated, true prayer often shifts the focus from “me” to “us,” from individual desires to the needs of a community or nation. Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:19 further emphasise that our prayers, though spoken by us, can be answered for the benefit of others. When we embrace this selfless perspective, we begin to understand the deeper purpose of prayer: aligning our hearts with God’s will and allowing His blessings to flow through us to impact the lives of others. Whether or not we see immediate answers for ourselves, we can trust that God is working through our prayers to bring about good in the lives of those around us.
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Awura
Amen