Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Mike Caton

Exodus 8:30-31, “Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, and the LORD did what Moses asked. The flies left Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not a fly remained.”

Isn’t it great to see God answer prayers? One thing that immediately comes to mind is that we need to thank God for those answered prayers. I am afraid that we are all too guilty of coming to God with our list of wants and desires, and pouring them out to him like some heavenly wish-granter. But when those prayers are answered, we too rarely thank the Lord for his goodness. In fact, many times it seems like we have forgotten we even asked God to intervene, acting like we brought about that thing on our own! We really need to do better at saying, thank you, to God.

But what about when those prayers don’t seem to be answered, we cry out to God, begging him for some relief, and it seems like the relief never comes. Does that mean God does not hear us? Or even worse, that he does not care about us? Make no mistake, God does hear our prayers, and he does answer those prayers. But remember too that God created mankind with free will. We, and others, get to make our own decisions. People decide what they are going to do, for good or bad. And sure, the Holy Spirit is working on people, but those folks get to make the choice to listen and follow him or not.

It’s been said there are three answers to every prayer: yes, no, and not now. We need to be prepared for whatever answer God gives. And there is no doubt, some of the prayers we pray are really not good for us; they are selfish, dangerous, some folks might even pray for things outside of God’s will. God is not going to grant a prayer that dishonors himself or leads us farther away from him. So, we need to be prepared for the answer he gives, whatever it is. And we need to trust that God is going to do the right thing, he always does.

Father, help me pray in your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works full time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

READ ABOUT NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!