Prayer is about Relationship
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“He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I was complaining to a friend, “For so many years we prayed earnestly for the miracle of my husband’s healing, instead God gave me a growing experience.”
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“That’s your miracle,” she said.
It made me think about prayer and how God answers prayer. When we’re focused on answers, we’re apt to get in a huff with God. “Don’t you care?” we rail at God.
But prayer is primarily about relationship, not answers. As we spend time with God, we get to know Him. “Prayer makes your heart bigger until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself,” writes Mother Teresa.
Remember Paul’s thorn in the flesh? Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but instead, God gave him a growing experience. This seemingly unanswered prayer became an opportunity to trust God and to experience the power of Christ in his life.
I’m reminded of a little story I read recently. Once there was a man who asked God for a flower and a butterfly. But instead God gave him a cactus and a caterpillar. At first the man was upset, but then he decided to trust God anyway. After some time, the man went to check up on his request that he had left forgotten. To his surprise, from the thorny and ugly cactus a beautiful flower had grown. And the unsightly caterpillar had been transformed into the most beautiful butterfly. God always does what is right and good for his children.
Sometimes, God gives an overt miracle: a sick person recovers, we get the exact amount of money we need, a door opens which was tightly closed before. Other times, by withholding the answer, God gives us an opportunity to grow, to mature, to learn new things about His character.
Knowing God is the greatest answer to prayer. “The real miracle is God in us; God working through ordinary works and words,” writes Paul Tournier.
Father, I’ve come into your presence just to be with you. I want to know you at a deeper level. I want to trust you even when my prayers don’t seem to be answered for you always want the best for me.
Questions: How is God answering your prayers? Why do you suppose God allows a miracle to happen to one but answers differently for another person?
About the Author Helen Lescheid
Tags: complaining, forgotten, grace, helen lescheid, mirale, Mother Tceresa, Paul Tournier, rail, relationship, transformed, trust
14 Responses to “Prayer is about Relationship”
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to answer the question how is God answering my prayers?—with each morning that i wake He gives me hope.
from what i’m experiencing life in itself is a miracle. the first year of salvation i kept asking myself why did I not die. the second year, almost into the third, I do not ask why, I simply stay grateful and humbled. so why does God allow miracles to happen? I’ll know when I am called home. until then, i can only do my best to serve Him.
Praise God that i have interacted with you .Pray with me am reading offering a B.A in Office and Information Management beginning the exams on 31st November,09.God bless you.
Sarah
UGANDAN
Wow, thank you for this. It’s funny how the devotionals are often on-target with what we are going through. I just recently started a job (thank you for your prayers) & it’s been stressful b/c I’m not sure if this is what God wants me to do for a while, however, I do feel somewhat ‘stuck’ in this position for a while. I also heard some things that can be discouraging, about the leaders I am dealing with, & I ask for prayer that I be protected & covered in this case. Pls pray God will protect me throughout this whole situation & help me to do well in His grace, in this job. That I would honor Him in my thoughts, actions, life, relationships. It was a good reminder that God lifts us up in our weaknesses, I have certainly been starting to feel a bit tried, & I do need His grace & strength to supernaturally carry me through life! God bless & thanks for listenin’!
Shernett, thanks for sharing your heart. I would like to share what it says in Isaiah 57:1 KJV
1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
Shernett, I hope the verses above comfort you.
Diane Lind, I pray that GOD’s hands be upon you. I bind you to the blood of JESUS for healing and stable condition. The husband of my daughter’s girlfriend who was already physically affected by Parkinson became stable as an answer to prayer and now able to work full time and is enjoying his family. May the LORD show us HIS glory with your full restoration. I will add you in my prayer list Diane. GOD bless.
Romel H
I enjoyed today’s devotional today also. I was diagnosed with MS 6 yrs ago. As my abilities decline God become’s more real to me. I see his plan and trust he knows what’s best for me and will get me through this. What a blessing his peace bring.
Hey Judy,
I’m disabled and unable to work ‘out there.’ I too have drawn close to HIM as a result; and yes, my husband has grown and matured in similar ways. Thanking God for your sharing. My husband is kind and gentle in ways he & I would not know if an illness had not come to reside in the midst of our relationship. God does and will use everything for HIS honour & glory. [mind you I am not the same type A, go go go person either. I have learned to sit in HIS presence.
One of my favourite quotes is from a British writer, Churchill quoted him during WW2.
"They also serve who only stand and wait."
So many of us have learned to STAND for HIM and wait upon HIM for our needs].
Be blessed sisters
Thank you, Helen, for today’s devotional. It was wonderful.
Yes, there is the evil one who comes and whispers in our head, “why pray? God will not heal them anyway.” Rebuke it!
I am a stroke survivor and can no longer teach, but I have such a wonderful time with the Lord now. Plus, my husband has grown so much. Where I used to teach Sunday School or Bible study he now teaches. I have seen him grow in the Lord and he has grown in wisdom and his personality has become more extroverted. I thank the Lord for answered prayers. . . in His way.
Thank you, Romel for the 5 D’s.
Shernett, I pray the Lord will wrap His arms around you. That you will feel His love and be encouarged. God Bless you, my sister. In His Name, Amen.
Shernett,
Thanking God for your continual leaning into and trusting Him thru this time. Blessings of every kind be yours dear one. This is a step I have not had to face; but when the day comes I will remember your hope, faith and trust in HIM that is growing toward maturity. Thank you for sharing.
I am recently learning to totally trust God. I recently prayed for my son’s healing. It never came how I expected (God brought him home)but God is showing me that he has a greater good in store- which is my maturity.
Your devotionals are very inspiring and is from the heart of God because they are so timely for me.
Thanks and God Bless!
Shernett (Jamaica)
Our very existence is in order to have relationship w/God. And prayer/talking/spending time w/HIM is the way relationship is built.
God’s main purpose is relationship here and now FOR the eternal to come. Each of us is vastly different and individual so of course our relationships to and w/the Father is different. HE will answer our prayers as they best fit each person. Ultimately the only thing of eternal importance is not that we receive ‘miracles’ but that we come to understand HIS great love for us and accept HIS offer of salvation and relationship w/HIM in glory for all time!
Hi Romel; the 5 D’s are great
I really enjoyed the devotional this morning. I like what Romel said with the 5 D’s of prayer. I pray sometimes thinking and being impatient and wondering why it’s not working. I wonder if I am worthy sometimes to have my prayer answered. After a while I realize that all things thru God come in due time. We have to have patience and faith. Also, just because what we ask for may not be given the way we expect or what we want, God knows what’s best for us and he will always lead us the right way.
How very beautiful and how very TRUE. God bless your hearts, all of you working in this ministry. I’ve recently joined and God is truly using the daily devotionals to draw me closer to Him.
Thanks Helen for the beautiful Devotional. GOD always answer prayers according to how HE sees fit. He answer it in 5 D’s.
5 D’s? What is that? HE answers the prayer
1. Definitely for we asked it according to HIS will.
2. Differently – HIS plans are better than ours.His thoughts are not our thoughts. It’s higher than ours.
3. Distributed- little at a time to develop our patience, longsuffering and character.
4. Delayed -HE would like us to trust HIM. (Numbers 23: 19; Ps. 89: 34; Jeremiah 1:12
5. Denied – there are prayers we asked but will hurt us. In HIS love, HE denied our prayers. PTL.
Romel H
Mother Teresa answers the question for me. Thank you for sharing this wonderful quote today.
“But prayer is primarily about relationship, not answers. As we spend time with God, we get to know Him. “Prayer makes your heart bigger until it is capable of containing the GIFT of GOD himself,” writes Mother Teresa.