I would like to tell you a true story that I believe will encourage you and strengthen your faith. In my backyard I have a small pond—it was a 50th birthday gift from my wife and kids. Of course I provided the labor and had to dig it by hand—that was the hard part. BTW; I decided to put the pond in for several reasons. For one it has great aesthetic value, secondly the pond drains into a series of pipes that waters and fertilizers my garden, and three, it serves as an emergency back up source of water—just in case—of course I would run it through a water filter. I also have the option of running a hydroponics system off the pond, which I may incorporate in the future.
But anyway back to the story. In years past we have had turtles in our pond that I either caught, or bought at a local pet shop. This year we did not have any turtles in our pond--some have died, and some have disappeared probably by escaping—though the pond and yard is fenced in—they are determined little creatures. So this year I had tried catching one, and even went to purchase one, but none were to be found.
Last week my daughter made it one of her prayer requests that Jesus would send her a turtle. And lo and behold a few days later a turtle showed up in our pond. As I mentioned the yard is fenced in, and the pond is fenced in, and also the nearest creek where there might be turtles, is about ¼ of a mile away. So whether the turtle walked to our pond and got under the 2 fences, or whether God just made it appear, I do not know. All I know is, she prayed, and God answered her prayer, and gave her a turtle.
BTW; we named the turtle Sam--short for Samuel because my daughter asked it of the Lord--...and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord. 1 Sam 1:20
Why did God answer her prayer? Besides God being loving, kind, and good. I believe He answered her prayer because she had faith that He would give her that turtle. As Jesus said;
Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them…for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
And why doesn’t God sometimes answer our prayers? Our lack of faith.
James 1:6.7
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
So when we ask God for something we need to ask believing that He will give it to us and He will right? Maybe—only if it is in His will. Both conditions must be there, we must have faith and it must be in accordance with God’s will.
Thus we should pray like this; God I ask you for ________ and I thank you and believe that you will give it to me if it is in your will. This is one of the concepts Jesus was demonstrating in the garden.
Matthew 26:39
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
It is this simple prayer of faith that I believe will be crucial during the tribulations that many will face in the end times.
And we also need to realize that some things are already revealed in scripture that they are God’s will for us. For example; what if, in the near future you find that you are without food. Doesn’t God promise us that the righteous will not go hungry?
Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Thus according to that verse I believe it is God’s will for His children to have food, and if you pray and ask for it, and believe, you will receive it. It’s that simple.
Luke 12:22-40
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Are you ready for the return of the Son of man? Do you know what you must do to be saved? Please accept my gift to you and download a FREE copy of The Coming Epiphany today.
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