Surprise Me! (Matthew 7:7)

My prayer list chronicles my prayers from the initial date and an accompanying Bible verse. Whenever a prayer is answered by God, I record the date and outcome. As I review my prayer list, I note the varying length of times God has used to answer the prayers. Some prayers have been answered on the same day it was first recorded. However, there are several prayers that are still awaiting an answer after more than five years. Recently, I updated some of these prayers and prayed over them and asked God to surprise me. As the old adage goes, “Be careful what you wish for, you may get it.” I would modify that and state, “Be careful what you pray for, God will surprise you!”

God has surprised me many times with answered prayers. He kept my dying mother alive long enough for me to return to Hawaii and spend a last day with her. He allowed me to have one last telephone call with my father before he unexpectedly passed away. But perhaps the most surprising prayer God answered was the first prayer I ever truly prayed to Him.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 (ESV)

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

James 4:3 (ESV)

Many years ago, I was searching to know the truth about Jesus Christ. Was He truly the only path to God? I asked God to grant my prayer to reveal Himself to me. It was the most honest prayer I have ever prayed and because I asked from the purest of motives, He answered my prayer affirmatively and dramatically!

A wise man once stated, “Pray for something so big that it will only succeed by God answering the prayer.”

Indeed!

God does answer prayers! And I am grateful that he does!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.