He Still Answers Prayers

"Prayer . . . the very highest energy of which the mind is capable."

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772-1834

Now to country folk seeing a baby calf stand up for the first time is not unusual, but for a city girl I was thrilled when I captured this calf standing up one morning on the way to work.

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite psalms, especially verse 2 which says: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” That verse was the subject of a devotion I recently read by Charles Spurgeon.

He begins the devotion by saying: “It is a delightful and profitable exercise to recognize the sovereign hand of God in the lives of the ancient saints of old . . . however, wouldn’t it be even more interesting and profitable for us to recognize the hand of God in our own lives?”

I would call them little lumps laying in the field, and it always thrills me to see them!

The very same God who answered prayer for the saints of old is still in the business of answering prayer today. “Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old,” Spurgeon said. I do believe He is!

Psalm 103 is powerful to read and meditate on. Perhaps I should take a little time today and consider all the Lord has done for me. Then, I too, can say, “Yes, the goodness of God has filled my life.”

As we know, God doesn’t always answer prayer or work in our lives the way we want. I think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they faced a fiery furnace. Their reply to King Nebuchadnezzar was, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Each of us has one or more very deep requests that we have asked of God through our life. And those requests may not have been answered yet and may never be answered the way we think they should. I can clearly say, after years of walking with God, that, yes, “. . . even if God does not answer the deep requests of my heart” I will still honor, live for, serve, hope in and trust the God of creation. My faith is sure. That’s a good feeling to have. I hope you can claim that too.

I think I’ll take that time right now to meditate on all God has done for me. There must be trillions of answers to recall!

"I know not by what methods rare, but this I know: God answers prayer."

Eliza M. Hickok

By His Grace . . .