My Daily Pause

In Psalm 21 David revels in the victory and strength given to him by God. Much like on this occasion, where David and his army took a knee to communicate with their maker, he spent a lot of time praising the Lord for their victories and asking for the strength to face the enemy. When we pray for victory, we are giving the Lord our ultimate trust – we are literally turning over our fate into His hands.

In the same way, a prayerful life is one that sets us apart from the world. We are those who do not have to rely on ourselves to get ahead – those who choose to be directed down a better path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Philippians 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.(KJV)

There is no need to be anxious about anything. Worrying about basic needs is counterproductive and takes away from your work of spreading the Gospel. Worry can consume you to the point of forgetting to pray.

Jesus taught in Matt 6:25-34 that we are not to worry – just look at all the things in nature that the Lord makes sure are cared for in splendid manner. He then assures us that we are so much more important than these things and that God knows what we need. Peter took this lesson to heart in 1 Peter 5:7 where he calls for us to cast …all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

When was the last time you had a really heartfelt conversation with God?

1 But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” – 2 Kings 7:1-2 ESV

Our Lord has asked us to pray for what we need Matthew 7:7, and Paul tell us God is very generous to those who remember to call upon him (Romans 10:12).

Have you ever felt like he doesn’t hear you? Better yet, have you ever realized a prayer was answered in a way you hadn’t planned?

Here are just a couple of things about prayer we can observe in our Bibles:

• There are three ways a prayer can be answered. Yes. No. Wait.
• The answer may not always be a in neat package.
• God expects us to trust him.

Read how God provided food for his people in an extraordinary way (2 Kings 6:24-7:20) and then meditate today about how God has impacted you when least expected.