“God, why don’t you answer my prayers?” You may ask.

 

Quite a few friends in my life have been experiencing pain or hardship lately. Some don’t believe in prayer at all, and some believe in prayer- but the moment they don’t get what they pray for, they give up or give the devil a smile by complaining about it. Basically you can say that they treat God like a slot machine. You win, you’re happy- you lose, you walk away and you give up.

God does not work that way. James 1v 5-8 states: “If you need wisdom ask your generous God to give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, make sure your faith is in Him alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalties is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do”.

What a Powerful verse.

We also have to have a proper relationship with Him, or our response will be blocked. When this is in place, it means you will ask to be forgiven of your sins as it happens. And no sin or guilt will block your awesome relationship with God.  Just the other day, I needed to sell a lot of Nederburg wine for this incentive, so I sat and thought of all my clients who I could ask to buy in large amounts. I only wrote down those whom I had a good relationship with- because I would feel stupid if I asked a client who I never see or never invest time with. It would be like using them, only because I wanted to win the incentive.

1 John 1v9:”But if we confess our sins to Him He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness”.

Isaiah 59 1v1+2: “Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.”

It made me think of all the little sins I never repent when I get too pre occupied to nurture my friendship with God.

The Bible emphasises that we will receive if we ask according to the will of God.

James 4 v 3: “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong- you want only what will give you pleasure”.

1 John 5 v 14-15: “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know he will give us what we ask for.”

As I’ve mentioned before- God is not a slot machine, just automatically responding to our demands. Sometimes He is busy working in the lives of individuals and His idea of timing may be different from ours.

2 Peter 3v9: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed ,but wants everyone to repent.”

“If we are sure that our request is made with a pure heart, in accordance with His will and without doubting Him, we can be sure that the answer is on the way and His timing will be perfect. Remembering too, that sometimes God’s answer to our prayers is not what we expect. SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS NO. Let God be God.” (Ask Val Joy! October 2012:80)

Just an update.

I thought I would just give a quick update on how I have been this week. I wish I could say “phenomenal” “exciting” or any word that sounds super positive- but I would be lying.

Let’s just say- it has been challenging. It feels like I am being tested every second of every day. I am not saying it’s a bad thing, because I love a good challenge- I would just really like a little break. I must say though, for every bad thing that has happened, a good thing, or let’s call it a Victory, was the end result.

The first thing that got to me was our medical aid. They only paid my specialist 1/3 of the amount claimed. Let’s just say, for that price I could have had an actual baby. Now I don’t even have something to show for it-same for the anaesthesiologist. The bill even said “EMERGENCY PROCEDURE”. Had I not been operated on, I could have died! What is the point of me paying for a good medical aid if they suck when they have to actually pay out? The positive note is, my doctor is awesome. He said we could work out something- be that, him fighting back, or be it, him giving me discount on the remaining outstanding amount. It’s not that we can’t afford it, It’s more an issue of me, paying the medical SO much every month, and  the fact that I refuse to use our hard earned cash or savings (for the future Storm). It’s also Loedi , Carien and Hunters birthday this month and we also want to buy our dream home now! So the timing is just a bit off.

The other thing that got to me was once again employees that work for the government, in this case SANRAL.  Metro traffic, SARS and City Power had already gotten their Noddy badges this year.

My petrol card had expired on 1 October, and on 3 October, without notice from my secretary, I tried going through a toll gate at 7am. Peak traffic time. I had to be at a big roadshow for work at 7:30. This is not the part where I defend myself, because I should not have been driving around without any cash, but yes- the card didn’t work and I had no cash. All the cars started piling up behind me, and there was only 4 working booms. I hooted and pressed the help button. No one came. I got out of my car and walked to the boom next to me. (In the highest shoes in my closet). I then kindly told the lady working in the cubicle to help me. I offered her my debit card, credit card- anything! I asked her if she could just open the boom so I can get out the way so that everyone could stop murdering me with their eyes! Better yet, let me drive 1km further to the off ramp and draw R8! “No”, she says. At that moment I wanted to lose all my inhibitions, self-control and manners and just tell her what I thought of her- but I did the easy thing: I went to my car and burst into tears.  Suddenly God told me to call Janine. The same Janine where we squatted over the weekend when the electricity was off.  She also works with me. Turns out she had also chosen that particular route to work and as I called, she had just driven through the tollgate. I ran to her in my mother wedges, nearly being driven over by a taxi, got the money, through it at the lady- did not even wait for change and sped away. I only regretted my behaviour 5 minutes later when I realised Janine could have taken another route, at an earlier time. God was really looking after me.

Then, at 10 pm last night, after being awake since 3am doing my portfolio, I clicked “Submit”. As I did that, I realised that I had been so pre occupied with the damn portfolio and work and running after the dogs that were gone twice already this week and stressing over the medical aid and and and and- that I had not spent any time with God. As I closed my eyes and started apologising and praising him for all that He has done, I once again realised how unbelievably blessed we are. I can still have another baby, we saw an amazing house we want to put an offer in for (and if they don’t accept, that’s also fine, because we are taking a big chance here J I will reveal this miracle if it comes our way), my husband and his incredible talents are in demand, my daughter has lost her naughty streak in exchange for a much better, sweet-as-sugar streak, and as an added bonus, I was leading the hair extensions competition!

Once again thank you to all 43 friends that have been voting. Also for all the inbox messages after my previous post.  You guys carry me.

Love you to the moon and back.

Lee