About one hour after I posted my prayer request blog post, I received a phone call from Pastor Carlton at my church. He said, “We talked it over and if you have no objections, we would like to pay your utility bills that are due.” It took me less than a second to find no objections. This is an example of how faith and prayer work in the life of a Christian believer. When I wrote that blog asking for your prayers instead of your money, I had faith God would find a way to provide. His message will continue to be free for you to read and apply to your daily life until God calls me home to be with Him.
It is our faith that releases the power of our prayers. I’m reminded of an old story about a rural community that was suffering greatly because of a long drought. Word went throughout the community that everyone was invited to the town square to pray for rain. After nearly two hours of prayers from all of the pastors in the area, there wasn’t even a small cloud to be seen. As they were getting ready to break up the meeting and go home, a young boy pulled up on his bike. He was wearing water proof boots and carrying an umbrella. He knelt in prayer and when he opened the umbrella it began to rain. He was the only one who wasn’t soaked to their skin. He was the only one who was so certain God would answer prayer that he came prepared to receive it.
When we ask God for something, are we in faith eagerly expecting His answer? If not, He may withhold it until our faith increases our expectation.