Emma was stressed. She was due to attend her Universal Credit application meeting and had heard stories about how unfriendly the advisors could be. Yet her family really needed the financial support. Although not a Christian, she allowed the team at my wife’s community support group to pray for her.
A week later it was a different story. Emma shared with them how amazing and helpful the advisor had been. “I’ve never heard of anyone having a meeting like mine. There’s something in this prayer thing: maybe it’s sending good vibes.”
Clearly, Emma isn’t yet understanding or acknowledging God, but isn’t it exciting to see Him at work both in answering prayer and in drawing her to Himself? As the Psalmist writes, “Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. You who answer prayer, to you all people will come” (Psalm 65:1-2). We sometimes forget that God loves to answer prayer, showing Himself in the details of our and others’ lives. In this, He invites us to come close to Him.
Sometimes we can’t see God at work. And those times are incredibly hard. Yet Scripture promises, “You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Saviour” (v. 5). He hasn’t changed. So, bring your needs to Him today, and don’t give up, for He is still “the hope of all the ends of the earth” (v. 5).
By Chris Wale
REFLECT & PRAY
How does it encourage you to hear God described as the One “who answers prayer”? What specific situations and people can you bring before Him today?
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the God who answers prayer—yes, even mine.
Explore more with Prayers of the Bible at a Glance at odb.org/ataglance
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
God’s handiwork is evident throughout all creation—in the beauty of a flower, a sunset, a soaring eagle, a newborn baby. Similar to David’s declaration in Psalm 65:8 that “the whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders,” Job said, “Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you . . . . Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:7-9). Psalm 19:1 says that “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” God’s creation and creatures may not literally “sing” His praises, but they inspire those with eyes to do so—and be amazed. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,” declares the psalmist (150:6), for the Creator of the world loves and cares for us.
Alyson Kieda
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