Today’s post is from blogger Isabella Morganthal, who writes at Worth It All. A couple weeks ago, my post about the importance of prayer was featured on her blog. Her guest post is also about prayer and includes three important things that we need to remember when we pray. I hope that you enjoy her post!
Unheard?
Have you ever been halfway through telling a story when you realize that no one is paying attention?
You nudge your listener and ask, “Are you listening to me?” Once you again have his or her full attention, you repeat your story.
Have you ever prayed and felt like God didn’t listen to your whole prayer?
I have. I have received totally different answers than the ones I prayed for, and I have wondered if God didn’t listen to my whole prayer.
But you know what? I think we feel this way sometimes because we have some misconceptions about prayer. Sometimes we can get so focused on how we think answers to our prayer should be that we forget who God is.
So when you’re praying, here are just a few things you should keep in mind:
1. The answer isn’t always yes.
I remember praying every day for something that I dreamed of for months. And then one day, I received the answer to my prayer. But the answer was “no.” I was stunned because I wasn’t expecting that. I expected that when God answered my prayer, it would be exactly what I had prayed for.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV)
We don’t understand the bigger picture the way God does. A “no” doesn’t mean He didn’t listen to you. It just means He understood what was best for you, even when you didn’t.
2. He cares about the little things, too.
Have you ever talked with someone about something little that was stressing you out and you could tell that person didn’t really understand or care? The wonderful thing about prayer is that you’re having a conversation with the God, who loves you more than you could ever imagine. And He cares about every little detail of your life.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 NKJV)
If God cares to know when every little bird falls to the ground and if He knows the number of hairs on your head, then He cares about every little thing troubling you.
3. It’s a conversation.
When you go to lunch with a friend, you don’t expect to sit and listen to him or her talk the whole time without even having the chance to respond. If that happened, it would be silly to say that the two of you had had a conversation. A conversation is two people talking together. Prayer is your conversation with God. So while you take the time to share your heart with God, also take the time to hear His voice to you.
“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'” (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)
If you listen for God’s voice, He will speak to you. It may not be right away, and it may not be how you expect. But I promise you that He will answer. Prayer isn’t a get-what-you-want guarantee. And God isn’t a vending machine, but He’s good. And He loves you and always knows what is best for your life.
Isabella Morganthal is a writer, dreamer, and child of God. She would love to connect with you over at her personal space on the internet: http://www.jesusisworthitall.weebly.com.
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