#89 Give God Time to Answer- Part 1

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Many prayers are granted by God but given up by the ones praying because they stopped praying before the answer arrived. 
   
   Undelivered prayers help no one. Without the dynamic of persistence much prayer remains unanswered.

   Daniel prayed with fasting until, on the twenty-first day, the angel Gabriel finally delivered him the answer. He said, (Someone praying, Google image)


   "Since the first day that you set your mind...to humble 
    yourself before God, your words were heard, and I 
    have come in response to them" (Dan. 10:12)

   But the angel revealed that a demonic ruler "resisted me twenty-one days" until Michael, another archangel, came to help him (v. 13).

   Then the answer granted three weeks earlier was delivered. What if Daniel had stopped praying on the twentieth day? He would have missed answer God desired to give him.

   There are important reasons why you need to give God time:

1. Sometimes demonic resistance delays God's answer until you and heaven prevail.

2. Sometimes it takes time for separate parts of complex situations to fit together. God knows the perfect time to give maximum results.

3. Sometimes it takes time for God to coordinate circumstances to bring pressure on a person until that one becomes willing to do what God wants him or her to do.

   George Mueller began praying for five unsaved friends. After five years, one came to Christ. After ten more years of prayer, two more were converted. Once Mueller said in Chicago,

   "I have prayed for two men by name every day for thirty-
    five years; on land or sea, sick or well, I have remembered
    them before God by name....I shall continue to pray for
    them daily, by name, until they are saved, or die."

   After thirty-five years of prayer, the fourth was saved. Mueller prayed almost fifty-two years, and the fifth was saved just after Mueller's death.   [Charles A. Blanchard, Getting Things From God (Chicago: Moody, 1915), 128-29].

   John Newton's mother was a very godly person. Because of her tuberculosis she knew she would soon die. Every day she prayed with and for John and taught him the Scriptures. When he was seven years old, she died.

   Neither his father nor his stepmother was interested in spiritual things. He first went to sea at the age of eleven on his father's ship. He became very wicked, constantly blaspheming the name of God. He repeatedly escaped death by the narrowest margin.

   Newton tried to get as far away as he could from any sacred influence. He became involved in the slave trade and was employed by a Portuguese man married to an African woman. 

   While the man was gone, his evil wife chained John, made him her slave, and gave him almost no food or clothing. After fifteen months he escaped but went deeper and deeper into drunkenness, revelry, and blasphemy. At the age of twenty-eight a severe illness prevented him from going to sea again.

   He later was won to Christ and had fellowship with Whitefield, Wesley, and others. He began to study Greek and Hebrew and in six years had become a preacher of the gospel.

   He later became the most famous minister in London. Among those he let to Christ were Thomas Scott, the commentator, and William Wilberforce, who led in the eradication of slavery from the British Empire. His numerous hymns still bless the church, including "Amazing Grace," his autobiographical hymn.

   John Newton won thousands to Christ, and when he died, Parliament closed, London shops closed, and several thousand followed his body to the cemetery.

   His mother's prayers had prevailed in spite of all Satan's efforts to destroy her son and keep him from becoming God's instrument. After twenty-two years, during which he face death again and again, God's individualized, providential circumstances finally brought him to Christ, answering his mother's persevering prayers.

   William Carey labored and prayed for seven years before he baptized his first convert in India. Judson prayed, prevailed, and suffered for seven years in Burma before he won his first disciple.

   Morrison prayed and labored for seven years before he brought his first Chinese person to Christ. Moffatt prayed, persevered, and prevailed for seven years before the Holy Spirit moved upon the Bechunanas of Africa.

   And Richards labored and prayed for seven years in the Congo before the first convert was found. Their prayers were heard all those years. But they had to persevere until God answered. [McIntyre, Hidden Life of Prayer, 74-75].  
   
Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana (With Jean's impressions added)


Mighty Prevailing Prayer
#89 Give God Time to Answer- Part 1
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 150 -152) Zondervan





Our Challenge: Are we willing to examine our excuses for not persevering to pray for God's will to be done in a situation, or for a loved one, and then be determined to be faithful to pray, trusting God's enablement? 

Let's pray-

Woman praying

    Father, we admit that we are sometimes impatient, when waiting for answers.
   We've read here of fellow Christians prevailing and waiting in expectation for the answers to their prayers.
   Their testimonies help us believe that not only do You hear, but You are actually working on our behalf, in response to our prayers.
   We thank You, and ask for Your help in this endeavor to become effective and prevailing intercessors in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

(Is. 65:24 KJV) "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

(Is. 46:11 b KJV) "I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it."

(Is. 30:18 KJV) "And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Today's quote-

K. O. McNair-

"All in his hands" —what confidence it brings

To tested hearts, to know that all the things

That make up life and circumstance, he holds

In his strong hands, and patiently unfolds

Th' eternal purpose of his sovereign will—

That all things shall his grace and glory fill.

"All in his hands"? Then life with purpose moves

Within the circle of his will, and proves

It good, acceptable. The hands of man

Or Satan cannot mar or foil the plan

Which God ordained—to manifest his Son

In earthen vessels, to a world undone.

(p. 20 of his book, Peace LIKE A RIVER)

Today's popular post-

#105 Rule #6: The Intercessors

C. Peter Wagner: "Work with intercessors especially gifted and called to strategic- level warfare, seeking God's revelation of:

(a) the redemptive gift or gifts of the city; (b) Satan's strongholds in the city; (c)..."

Upcoming posts-

#90 Give God Time to Answer- Part 2

9th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

God's Immeasurable Goodness

11th- Saturday's post by Judy Pierce

#91 How Long must You Persevere?

14th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#92 Prevailing Involves Time

16th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Most beautiful horses

Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of recent posts)

Below, you have an opportunity to leave a comment.

Or, email me at jowildflowers@gmail.com

Samples of Jean's crafts

http://twitter.com/jeanoathout

http://facebook.com/jean.oathout

Granny's Guide to Marriage in Verse

31-day Devotional 
+ Jean's testimony

[Maybe just choose a title each
day that interests you]

A sample verse and Scripture from p. 51-

It Does Take Time
for Faith to Grow

"Christ's peace will come to you right there
If you'll but ask Him in.
You'll know release from every care
When His Life comes within."

"Therefore, having been justified by faith
we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1

(Published by Lighthouse Publishing 

                      of the Carolinas. Used by permission).

 A great gift for someone who may need help 
to prepare for marriage, and for those in a

marriage, wanting some helpful advice.