Answered Prayers

Answered Prayers

 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14: 12-14.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It can be a difficult thing to imagine, this idea that belief in Jesus Christ our Lord is a pathway to certain knowledge. For those of us who do believe this idea that what we ask for in this life can, and will be granted, is not a leap at all. We have been aware of this since we surrendered to Christ our Lord. In our faith and understanding, we ask for those things that by the Holy Spirit have been brought to us, the desires of our hearts. As it is written, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4.

In our delight, we must offer the Lord our gratitude for hearing and receiving our prayer. Gratitude opens the pathway to our desires, and a recognition that Our Father hears us in our supplications. We seek him when we need mercy and forgiveness, and we give Him thanks and praise when he bestows upon us the blessings that we experience.

As we walk this path of understanding, we must ask ourselves why we ask for those things we desire. Do we ask for our own satisfaction in the flesh or are we asking that our prayers be answered for a higher purpose, something that will serve the Lord’s will alone? King Solomon understood the importance of being careful when asking the Lord to answer our prayers.

As we read in II Chronicles, “In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, ’ask what I shall give you.’ And Solomon said to God, ‘Thou hast shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and hast made me king in his stead. O Lord God, let thy promise to David my father, be now fulfilled, for thou hast made me king over a people as many as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this thy people, that is so great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may rule my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” II Chronicles: 1:7-12.

When we humble ourselves, we open ourselves to the Lord’s will and as in Solomon’s example, this too is often rewarded by Our Lord. We should not be afraid to ask for the things that are in our hearts, but we should remember the righteousness of Our Lord and serve that righteousness always. Christ reminds us that when we receive our blessings from prayers we ask in His name, that it exemplifies Our Father’s Glory, and it is that which we must desire first. Thanks be to God.

Yours In Christ,

Br. Michael