Answered Prayer
Believe in God. Believe that He has answers your prayers and you will see your prayers answered.
"Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him...His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand...Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand...As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn’t listen to her, to lie by her...Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. But Yahweh was with Joseph."
Genesis 39:1, 3-4, 6, 9-10, 20-22
Joseph had one hard thing happen after another. He is sold into slavery, does well for his master which gained favor for him only to have the master's wife lie about him and get him thrown in prison. The story doesn't tell us about Joseph's prayer life but we do see how God keeps working regardless of his circumstances. What if Joseph's prayer was to be lifted up like he had seen in his dreams?
The path to answered prayer is not direct. We have to learn to trust in God and in His timing. Do you have any delayed answers to prayer? Is it possible the delay is God's way of doing something better?
“Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you...Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and give ear to my cry."
Psalms 39:7, 12-13
David wants only to know that his prayer is heard. Do you feel heard? Seen? Known by God? David does not mind waiting for Godly outcomes. What does it mean to have his hope in God? How can our past answered prayers give us hope for tomorrow?
“Don’t be hasty to go out of his presence...Whoever keeps the commandment shall not come to harm, and his wise heart will know the time and procedure. When I applied my heart to know wisdom...then I saw all the work of God"
Ecclesiastes 8:2-3, 5, 16-17
There is a tendency to pick up the pace and hurry through life when one feels pressure. Wisdom says it is best to slow down and trust in God's timing. Solomon says when you seek wisdom you will see that God is always moving, always working, always preparing a way for His people.
“Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “For there will be peace and truth in my days.”
Isaiah 39:6, 8
Hezekiah gets some tough news about the future, but rather than stressing out, he is content with what he is given during the days of his life. His focus remains on God. Is that our default? Don't we tend to take our eyes off God and focus on our worries? Do we trust that God is greater than our ups and downs? Hezekiah did and he chose to live in truth and peace all of his days because of who God was to him.
“My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations...Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening, he shall have whatever he says...Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.”
Mark 11:8-9, 17, 22-24
Is your house a house of prayer? How much time do you spend in prayer? What do your prayers sounds like? Are they pennies tossed in a well hoping your wish will come true? Jesus says prayers should demonstrate the confidence that you have in your Savior.
The most common prayer is God give me, help me, or change something. Jesus says trust me. Do God's will and you will see how what I gave you, how I helped you, and what I did or did not change was used for your good and God's glory. Jesus did not come to make life easy. It certainly wasn't for Joseph. He came to make us strong, our prayers bold, and to teach us that the God who loves you is always answering prayers.