Keep on Knocking~

Yesterday we looked at a sequence of events that goes something like this:


1-We have a need/concern.

2-We pray.

3-God hears it.

4-He formulates a plan of action.

5-He implements the plan.

What do we do, however, when things seem stuck between numbers four and five? What are we thinking on those days or even weeks or months between us having prayed, accepted by faith that God has heard our prayers, confident that He has a solution, but we still don't have the answer?

The tendency we have is to either give up on praying because we convince ourselves that God is never going to answer, or we feel like we have bothered God one too many times and don't want to keep pestering Him over the same matter.

This is where having the Bible comes in mega handy. Luke 11:5-10

Then Jesus said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find;Knock and the door will open.

What these verses show us is that if we will finally get up out of bed and open the door, even for an annoying friend, how much more will God, who is never bothered by us, answer us? These verses give us holy permission to keep on knocking until we receive an answer. We must never give up just because our timeline differs from God's. Trust me, if I could have had it my way, there are some answers that would have shown up in two days as opposed to two months.

The reason why our relationship with God is sometimes called a faith walk is because it takes faith to keep on praying when the answer seems so far off.

Nevertheless, please know that God not only wants you to keep knocking, He expects it!

Is there something you stopped praying for because the answer never came? I encourage you to reignite that flame before the Lord and keep it burning until He shows up.

I was going to stop the DEVO there, but then I remembered something significant.

Six and a half years ago I started a very special prayer relationship with someone. Every day we pray on the phone for a few minutes for the health and well-being of someone she loves. The number one thing we asked is that he would stop smoking. SIX YEARS later, that prayer was answered, and he has finally quit.

What would have happened if we would have stopped praying one year in, or two years in? Certainly by year five no one would have blamed us if we would have stopped because at that point, God had surely forgotten us. But what we discovered is that even while we were waiting for the answer, God encouraged us mightily along the way. He protected those we love, gave peace to our anxious hearts, provided for our needs. In other words, other beautiful things were granted while we were waiting on the one big answer. We would have missed out on so much if we would have quit. Let us resolve today that we are going to go the distance with God, no matter how long it takes. There are too many blessings along the way that we do not want to forfeit.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, You will always come through for us; we must never give up. Thank You that You have made it clear in Your Word that You want us to be persistent with our prayers. We take You up on that invitation and ask You to bless us today. In Jesus' name, AMEN~