Answered prayer begins with me . . .

 

2 Chronicles 35-36; Malachi 3-4; John 20-21; Revelation 21-22

If this year has a theme for my spiritual life, it certainly is prayer. Many days the Scripture readings instruct or encourage me to keep praying. Life is doing that too as God surprises me with His responses.

One of them was totally unexpected. I’d put on 5-6 pounds in the past few weeks, not a big problem for most people but my heart condition means even two or three make me sluggish. My son said, “You will have to stop eating for a couple of days.” I prayed asking God to help me lose it.

My biggest problem is wanting to snack at night so the other night we had popcorn. My body reacted with a rare but painful attack of diverticulitis. I slept for two days, no eating, no appetite, just water. God answered; I lost those extra pounds — through an enforced fast which is not deadly, but it worked. I can see Him smiling.

With that, the Lord brings me back to that theme of prayer. I’d not understood how to apply what Jesus says in this passage until now:

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:21–23)

Receiving the Holy Spirit is vital. Without Him, I cannot obey God. Without Him, I do not know how to pray either. This passage tells me the importance of my attitude toward people when interceding for them. I cannot resent their sin or have an unforgiving spirit about anything they are doing or have done. If I do, I am withholding forgiveness and God will not answer my prayers.

This is an important spiritual principle; if my attitude towards anyone is not right yet I am praying for them, God will first deal with my attitude before He deals with the person for which I am praying.

For one thing, I’m supposed to love my enemies . . .

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43–48)

I’m not particularly aware of enemies, but I am aware of being annoyed by the behavior of some people. That is not love. Besides, there is this:

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. (Proverbs 24:17–18)

This covers many bad attitudes including being smug when someone has problems that I don’t have. God deals with the failures and problems of others. I do not, not even in my annoyance. It is up to Him whether that person is on the receiving end of wrath or grace, not me.

I’ve been told that if I don’t know whether to rebuke or forgive, it is better to err on the side of mercy. Besides, if I truly want others to be forgiven and become members of the family of God, then I must make that choice otherwise I could be withholding God’s forgiveness and making my prayers worthless.

APPLY: Duh!

May 2021 be a year of faith in Christ that keeps growing stronger!