“Our generation desperately needs to rediscover the difference between praying for and praying through.”
I have had this thought many times over the years, little did I know, this statement would be put to the test for me personally.
As many of you know, I recently was without a vehicle. Without sharing all the details (although I will be sharing more detail on our partner call this month), I went without a vehicle for almost five weeks when all was said and done.
In the world we live in today, that is not a pleasant thing to do. I live alone, and my vehicle took me to work and back. It took me to get things I needed through the week. It is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Week one, my faith was strong, and my confession was firm. I was praying only spirit led prayers. I was not praying for my will to be done, although I really needed a vehicle. I was praying for God’s will for me for a vehicle. I determined in my heart I would wait upon the Lord.
I continued to pray and stand in faith.
Week two was a little more trying, but my faith remained firm in God and His faithfulness.
Week three, my family and friends were telling me I needed to do something. Anything. I was told I needed to make a decision and move forward.
Trust me, I wanted to do that more than anyone…but I had determined in my heart to wait on what God had for me and all I knew was this; I have not seen it yet.
God continually spoke one scripture to me; Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:3-4
My faith was being tested, that’s for certain. The question was, would I allow patience to have her perfect work in me? In my situation? That was up to me.
I continued to pray. Week four came. I kept praying and standing in faith for what God had for me. When I would get weary, I would declare… “I will settle for nothing less than what God has for me.”
Week four, God came through and brought me the perfect vehicle…the one HE had for me. It had everything I asked for on it…and the best part is, it was and is…debt free.
God is faithful to His promises.
I stood in faith. I sowed seed every single time He prompted me to, without hesitation. I prayed. I prayed again. And again. Until I prayed all the way through the situation.
The scripture God showed me says; But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If we allow patience to have its perfect work, what God promises us is that we will be perfect, complete and lacking nothing.
The words, perfect work, means labor, growth, mental and moral maturity.
That’s what happens when we decide to pray and continue to pray until we see the completeness of what we are praying for. We grow in God. We grow mentally. Our thoughts and desires begin to line up with His. We come to a place of maturity in Him.
Maturity comes when we determine to pray through and then follow through with our actions.
Today, as I drove to run errands, I couldn’t help but overflow with thankfulness. Thankfulness for a faithful God. For His faithful word & promises. Thankful for the power of prayer. God gave us such as awesome tool. May we use it more and more.
Meditate on this:
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3
