Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Day 39 Your perseverance coach

Perseverance Day 4:

" 99% of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses."
George Washington

I want to remember that quote from today. It seems to me today everyone is always looking to blame someone else.
When we are determined we get criticized for not being flexible. We can no longer express our convictions because we will be called intolerant. People who are disciplined are called control freaks.
When you remove every challenge, reduce every standard, and soften every obstacle, there are no meaningful rewards to gain.

Today spoke to me in so many ways I was just so excited and hopeful when I got to the end. Today asked us to remember something we have prayed about for a long time. Something you have prayed about off and on for years or something you gave up praying for because God never seemed to answer you.
Jesus told of a parable of a widow who persisted and got an unjust judge to meet her request (Luke 18:1-8). She kept after him until he gave in. The point Jesus wanted to make was this: If an unjust judge will grant the request of a persistent person, how much more will your loving father respond to your prayers of trust in his time?
So why does it sometimes seem God does not hear our prayers? There are 4 things we need to understand about persistent prayer.

1. Unanswered prayer is how God gets our attention.
Do you look to everyone else to solve your problem before you turn to God?
Do you pray to God but then go look on the internet for your "real" answer?

Depend on the Lord and his strength always go to him for help. Psalm 105:4

God waits until you go only to him.

2. Sometimes praying for something for a long time changes your desires.
Sometimes God will use prolonged prayer to test the depth of our desire or to help us adjust our request. Have you ever prayed for something for so long then realized you really didn't want or need what you were asking for?

3. Persistent prayer changes you.
Effective prayer gives you meaningful communication with God. It reveals your innermost self to him.

4. Persevering in prayer is an exercise of faith.
God grows your character, faith, and hope.
Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we could ever dare to ask or even dream of. Ephesians 3:20

God expects us to ask continually for the same thing until we get our prayer answered. Remember he only has 3 answers. Yes, not yet, and no I have something better.

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