Answered Prayer

You do not have because you do not ask, or you ask with wrong intentions. My paraphrase of James 4:3 which reads: 

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

I'm in awe of how quickly God answers prayer sometimes. I'm sharing it because we all know what it is to pray and wait, sometimes for decades, with no fruit coming forth. The people still won't accept Christ, they still won't join a body of believers and serve, the money is not coming in as you hoped, the healing is not happening, or didn't happen...and if we are having a hard time, those answers of 'no' can be tough to accept. 

I want to take time to point out that the same God who says no and wait, also says YES! And when He does, He can not only move fast, but abundantly. It is mind blowing. It gives me the confidence to fully trust when He isn't answering or isn't answering as I want. He hears His children with the intent to answer. He says He will. This is what gives us peace in spite of loved ones who will not believe or obey Him. We have our special relationship with the God of the Universe and no one and nothing can take that away. While others spin their wheels and have no peace, we can have a peace that surpasses ALL understanding. 

• Ask for wisdom and direction for what work to do after homeschooling is over...He gives the idea and blesses the amount of work perfectly and gradually to help get you up to speed on working outside the home for the first time. He transitions from 1 to 10 over the course of years needed so you can accomplish all that needs to be accomplished, learning how to get housework done differently and cooking/shopping. 
• Desire to give a certain amount of money to missionaries and He brings a sale price where the tithe is exactly what you wanted to give!
• Desire ministry that He is clearly on board with because He brings the opportunity in spades!
• Ask Him to serve alongside your family as you all age and He leads you to a church where you can immediately plug in serving together even though ages of your family members are all over the place!
• Desire to serve with your husband in more ministry areas and suddenly there is only 1 you aren't serving in together!
• Pray for your child's college choice, find a solid church nearby, move said student to the area, knowing it is His will. Be blessed abundantly in obvious ways at that point, and after a year find out what God knew all along. The blessings that were waiting were beyond anything that could have been imagined. The state school's program your student was in was run by Christians! Follow, trust and obey and see the Lord unveil His plan!
• Ask God for something expensive and tangible that you need and which only He can provide. Receive a text from someone offering you that exact item. 

I say to this Ephesian 3:20--Now to Him WHO IS ABLE to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations. 

Thank you, Pastor Baker, for getting that truth in my mind when I was still in college. We serve a mighty and powerful God, who thankfully, knows how to say Yes and how to say No. Trust Him to do what is going to bring Him glory and honor, it is what is best for us all.