The most common dilemma for us Christians when it comes to prayer petitions is this – will God answer my request?
We pray for happy and fulfilling marriage.
We pray for healthy life.
We pray for successful careers.
We pray for safety for each family member.
We pray for the healing of a friend or loved one with illness.
We pray for a financially rewarding business.
We pray for passing the board examinations.
We pray for the next meal.
We pray for our country’s road to economic recovery.
We even pray for our enemies.
We pray for a lot of valid concerns and basic life’s necessities. And with expectant faith, we pray perseveringly either until the request is granted or when our hearts have grown tired and weary of waiting that we finally sank to hopelessness. We give up and feel that God has totally forgotten us. Sadly, we end up not praying anymore. But the assurance has always been given to us as Luke 11:9-12 says, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?"
God answers prayers and He does so righteously because only He knows truly what is good for you and me.
So why does God delay and, seemingly at times, even denied His response to our prayer request?
The truth is, it is simply because we often forget to say the “passwords” to God’s blessing.
And what are these “passwords”?
First is a three worded sentence.
Come Holy Spirit.
Luke 11:13 says, “….how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
The Lord promised to, always and without fail, answer our request for the Holy Spirit.
And what benefits, in terms of our personal prayer requests, will we have from having the Holy Spirit within us.
CCC 1831 teaches us that - The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David.They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.
When we have the Spirit within us, we will benefit from all His fruits and we will not only receive our prayer requests in a jiffy, ala UPS speed delivery, wrapped in glossy ribbons and colorful boxes. Instead, we will have the joyous experience of seeing them unfold before our very own eyes.
We will have a happy and fulfilling marriage.
We will have healthy lives.
We will have successful careers.
We will have safety for each family member.
We will have the healing of a friend or loved one with illness.
We will have a financially rewarding business.
We will pass the board examinations.
We will have the next meal.
We will have our country’s road to economic recovery.
We will have peace with our enemies.
The next password is another three worded sentence that is equally efficacious even without further elaboration.
Thank you, Lord.
A gracious attitude is a magnet for a gracious and blessed life.
May all our prayers be answered according to God’s will.
God bless po.
