As our prayer lists evolve, we will realise that there are prayers God
has already answered. Likewise, there are also prayers that we have
modified, those we keep on praying for, and some that we gave up on
and no longer mention before the Lord.
The biggest truth among all these facts though is that some of the
earnest prayers we prayed for have already been answered in our
lifetime. That we are somehow living our answered prayers.
“Thus says the Lord: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day
of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a
covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the
desolate heritages,” Isaiah 49:8
Sometimes, it takes other people to see how blessed we are. How the
Lord has responded to our deepest longings, and how much we are cared
for by our Everlasting Father,
We may not recognize that we are deeply favored by the Lord when we
are focused on the wrong things. When we feel like we are entitled to
more blessings than the Lord plans to give us. When we are ungrateful
and have a sense of entitlement.
It is this same focus on the wrong things that lead us to despair,
bitterness, envy, and resentment towards others and even to the Lord.
But if we take the time to reflect everyday how the Lord still chooses
to bless us in spite of our unworthiness, stubbornness, and even
rebellion, we will realize that we do not deserve anything. We will
realize that all the things we have in our lives are out of God’s
graciousness and mercy.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Gratitude is a discipline. When we do not take time to worship, honor,
and thank God for everything in our life, we will not be able to get
out from the dark pit of despair, bitterness, and discontentment.
When we do not acknowledge the truth that everything comes from the
Lord, we push ourselves to depend on our own strength and demand from
others and ourselves the security, love, joy, and contentment we can
only get from the Lord. When we do that, we only set ourselves up for
failure and disappointment. Recognizing God’s character, might, and
sovereignty will change all that.
“When we have little and have lost much, Christ comes and reveals
himself as more valuable than what we have lost. And when we have much
and are overflowing in abundance, Christ comes and he shows that he is
far superior to everything we have.” John Piper
So how do we train ourselves to be more grateful? Praying daily to
thank God for everything that He has done for us, allows us to declare
our full dependence on Him. It reminds us of His faithfulness, and His
promise of future deliverance.
Intentionally reading, meditating, and delighting on God’s word grows
our faith and gives us an anchor that could hold us still through
life’s emotional tsunamis. When we are faithful, grateful, hopeful,
and fully dependent on the Lord, we will realise that we have
everything that we need, and we are living our answered prayers.
“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power
to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is
the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life
because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” Ecclesiastes
5:19-20
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to
ponder on Ecclesiastes 5:13-20 and Philippians 4:10-13 to dig deeper
on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Have you thought about your prayers that God has
already answered? Have you thanked Him for these?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for answering
our prayers. Forgive us for when we are unable to recognize your
goodness, graciousness and mercy. Give us the grace to be more
grateful, and open our eyes to the abundance of your love. Amen.
