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“Yes, and here’s more”

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Australian David Smallbone felt Gods call on his life to promote Christian concerts. He started in his home country, then moved to the United States, where his career went from bad to worse. Soon he had no job at all. He and his wife prayed to God for help.

Then, interesting things began to happen. God provided bags of groceries, a minivan, and odd jobs. But the biggest surprise? A recording contract for Davids oldest daughter, Rebecca, when she was just fifteen years old. She recorded her first album using an old family name, St. James. Rebecca St. James quickly became one of the hottest Christian artists in America. And David began promoting his own daughters sold-out concerts!

All along, God knew what He was doing. Sometimes God will answer our requests with, “Yes, and heres MORE!” In the Bible, the Lord says, “For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and … to give you hope and a future.”

Get ready for Gods answer to your prayers when you pray that your friends will come to know Him. He loves to draw people to His side and just may do MORE than we dare ask for. So, dont give up. Keep praying and keep sharing the love of Christ!

“Yes, but differently than you think”

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National Football League running back Sherman Smith was the Seattle Seahawks most popular player. Then, without warning, he was traded to the San Diego Chargers. Everything changed for this Christian football star. He wasnt with the Chargers for more than a few weeks when he blew out his knee. While rehabilitating, he wondered, “Lord, why did you ship me to San Diego?”

As his knee mended, Sherman led one of his teammates to the Lord. That converted party-man, Miles McPherson, has since become an outstanding youth evangelist. He reaches tens of thousands each year with the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Why was Sherman traded to San Diego? He had prayed for God to use him, and God responded! When we pray bold prayers, we must be prepared for God to say, “Yes, but the answer may be different than you think!”

The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

When you pray for a friends salvation, Gods timing and ways may be different than you would like, but dont give up. Keep praying! Dont ever stop praying that the people in your life will come to Jesus. God will use you in the process, just dont give up.

“Yes, but you’ll have to wait”

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Phil Callaway didnt know what to say when his children asked if Mommy was going to die. His wife, Ramona, suffered horrible seizures. Hundreds of friends and relatives prayed. Medical specialists tried everything. But Ramonas weight eventually slipped to ninety pounds. And soon the seizures occurred daily, sometimes hourly.

One evening, when things looked utterly hopeless, Phil fell to his knees. “God!” he cried out. “I cant take it anymore. Please do something!” As he stood, a doctors name came to mind. Phil called the doctor, who saw Ramona the next morning and diagnosed a rare chemical deficiency. Within a week, Ramonas seizures ended. She was a different person. The miracle was so incredible that Phil says, “God gave me back my wife.”

Immediate answers to prayer. You want them. I want them. But God simply does not always work that way. And to receive His best, we must be patient. The Bible says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

When praying for our loved ones who do not know Jesus, we must persist. Because sometimes God will answer with, “Yes, but youll have to wait.” So, dont give up. Keep praying that your loved one will come to the Lord.

When God says “No”

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Do you believe that God hears your prayers? And if He hears them, do you believe that He answers them? This week, well look at five specific ways God answers prayer. Not just mine, but yours, too! Well take a look at a different answer each day this week.

The first is the answer we most dread. Its when God says, “No, my child, I love you too much.” Its hard when God says “no” to our heartfelt requests. Have you experienced this? I certainly have.

Take, for example, when my friend Diane started losing her hearing. When my mother-in-law came down with polio. When my father died. God said “no” to each of my requests, leaving me wrestling with the reality of His “no” answer.

In the Psalms in the Bible, many times David cries out to God to answer his prayers. But if God answers with “no,” does that mean we shouldnt bother to pray? No! Just the opposite. The Bible tells us, “to be patient in affliction” and “faithful in prayer.”

Whom do you know who may feel as though God is saying “No” to them? Be an encouragement for them. Continue to remind them of Christs unending love, even through the hard times. Tell them that even through the storms, God is there and wants to draw near.