God loves to answer our prayers, and the bigger and bolder our prayers the more I think He likes it. Faith is what pleases Him, and when we pray He expects that we would pray prayers that require Him to step in to do a miracle, rather than live life solely upon what we can do in our strength and ability.
When I went into labour with our second daughter Shara, my husband, Philip, was dropping off his last assignment to finish his degree. I remember that point because I’d specifically asked God not to let me have this baby until he’d finished his studies. As he walked into the building to deliver his work, I felt my first contraction and the beginnings of labour. It’s one of the reasons I know God likes it when we pray specific prayers because when he answers, we know it.
All through the rest of that day and night, I repeatedly experienced God’s hand on my life and the power of believing in His Word and promises. Shara arrived into the world at 3.30 am, and the midwife looked at my husband and said, “I’ve never seen a baby born like that before.” She said that because not only had I asked for a specific time for Shara to arrive, I’d also taken hold of God’s promise that Jesus has borne our every pain (incl labour pains). As a result of daring to believe his promise, I had Shara completely pain-free. (Galatians 3:13).
A vital step to seeing bold prayers answered is to know God’s will in a situation by searching His word for His wisdom and a promise. We can then pray, knowing that He desires to answer us. The answer may come differently to what we expect at times, that’s where trust comes in, but He will answer.
Instead of labour full of discomfort and pain, Shara was born into an atmosphere of peace, worship music playing in the delivery room and a knowing that God honours both His promises and our faith.
Jesus is radical and if you take a look through the gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) you will see that He said and did some pretty out of the ordinary things to answer and fulfil promises. For example, making water into wine to provide refreshments at a feast, spitting on dirt and putting it on a blind man’s eyelids to restore his sight. Touching and healing lepers, causing food to multiply to feed a crowd, interrupting funerals and raising numerous dead people to life to restore and reunite families.
Today I encourage you to go to God and His Word and dare to believe His promises. Look into what He says about your life rather than settling for the status quo. What others may not have experienced or heard to be possible is not a valid reason to hold back your prayers when you can see what God will do for those who believe and pray.
“For with God, nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your promises and that you will move whatever you need to answer my prayer. Please help me start to pray bold prayers and to dare to believe, for nothing is impossible for you. In Jesus name