ASAP!

Greetings,
 
This past Saturday Jorge and I finished a 40-day prayer adventure.  It was a time of joy as we realized that no one else on this planet cares about our needs and our children’s needs more than we two do, so who better than us to pray together!  (I highly recommend Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by Mark Batterson). One thing that kept coming up was our desire to see our prayers answered ASAP. But aren’t we all kind of the same?  We want what we want, and we want it now!
 
Our Lord, however, makes it clear in Acts 1:7 that “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business (The Message Version).”
 
Knowing when a prayer is going to be answered is none of our business; it’s God’s business.
 
Well, that’s a little discouraging until we read verse eight, “What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” 

Even though we don’t get to know the time, we get something better.  We get the Holy Spirit.  Who is the Holy Spirit?  He is that part of the Trinity Who guides us, leads us, empowers us, comforts us, teaches us to pray, washes us, brings unity, sets us free, reveals the deep things of God to us, speaks to us, strengthens us, gives us access to God, infuses us with joy and more…

The disciples received Him and were empowered to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the world.  And when we get Him, when He comes on us, we will be able to (fill in the blank). I highlighted that part of the verse above and then again in this paragraph to draw attention to the fact that there are certain things we will only be able to do because we have the Holy Spirit’s help.  

Do you need to be able to forgive someone? Know what decision to make regarding a business matter or relationship issue? Do you need strength for a crisis you are facing?  Does your hope need restoring? No matter what it is, as we leave the timing of our answers to the Lord, we must embrace the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Having Him is better than knowing when.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You so much for giving us the Holy Spirit Who empowers us to live a blessed life.  We welcome Him into our lives ASAP and are ready to receive all the good He is wants to do in us and for us.  Fill us now with the joy that comes from having Him in our lives.  We know You know how impatient we can be while waiting for answers, but even as we wait we pray for renewed strength from the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~