The key to the answer to every prayer is the same: It is that moving of the Spirit, that amount of money, that healing, that dying, that gain, that loss, that renewed relationship, that binding up of the thing that is broken, that finding of the Way, that new love, that pain, that overcoming, that revelation of the Truth – which brings honor, praise, and glory to the Name Above All Names: Jesus Christ. God answers prayer for “My own sake.” (2 Kings 19.34; Isaiah 37.35; Isaiah 43.25)
Regarding Paul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus told Ananias “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My Name.” Habakkuk complained that God did not hear his pleas for help. God answered, ” Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (1.5)
Habakkuk complained again and God said, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (2.14)
There are 38 instances in the Old Testament and 32 in the New Testament that specifically tell us that God does what He does for His sake – not ours. I am struck by the words of the 23rd Psalm, “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
The Bible says to ask God. He will hear and answer. Seek God’s Face and not His hand. Pray for His presence in your life – not what He can give you. In Jeremiah 33.3-8, God says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” “I will heal”, “I will restore”, “I will cleanse”, “and I will forgive.”
In 2 Chronicles 7.14, God says “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
In Psalm 27.7-8 David prays, “Hear, O LORD,when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.“
In Hosea 5.15 God tells us “I will go away and return to My place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
Then what about the pain? The personal physical and emotional pain that we all suffer from time to time, whether we admit it or not? And why do some, especially those who love the Lord, at times seem to suffer so much more than others? I don’t know. I believe we must fight through pain – emotional and physical. When I am weakest I must seek relief by calling on the one and only True God. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51.15) When we are weakest and we trust in God – we are our strongest.
Pain may come from two sources:
There are trials from God Himself. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1.2-8 ) Note that “trials” are not the same as “temptations”.
Double-minded is literally “two souls.” If one part of a person is set on God and the other is set on this world (Matt. 6.24), there will be constant conflict within [Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary]. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6.24) So what is “mammon”? It is “stuff”, the things of this world.
On James 1.12, the KJV Study Bible [Nelson] states: Mankind understandably may look on tragedy as the curse of God, as Job’s friends did. Trials are, however, the means through which God’s blessings can come. One’s endurance in and victory over trials bring God’s blessings. Christians, therefore, are not instructed to seek avenues of escape. God desires that they mature in the situation rather than move from it (cf. Rom. 5.3–5; 1 Pet. 1.6, 7). He does, however, promise to provide an escape if the testing becomes unbearable (1 Cor. 10.13). God’s people need to meditate more on James 1:12 than 1 Corinthians 10.13. The reason for this, and why God allows trials in the lives of His people, is revealed in the Mosaic Law: “That he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end” (Deut. 8.16).
How we deal with our pain may be our best testimony – God’s using us as His chosen vessels – a witness to the world of God’s love for those who trust in Him – in spite of our circumstances. Your life – a living sacrifice. “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12.1)
The other source of pain is a result of our own sin nature. “He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away [i.e., lured away from truth and virtue – he takes the bait!] and enticed by his own desire [i.e., by his own temperament and habit]. “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” (James 1.13-15) We must also endure temptations from the Liar. “Blessed is a man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1.12). God sees our heart. Protest as we may, He knows the intentions of our actions. God sees the internal MOTIVE of the heart of a person. (1 Cor. 4.5; Rom. 8.27; Jer. 17.10)
Life is not easy and our attempts to understand God in a particular situation are frequently futile. Nevertheless, as my Mother would say “Lord, I’m trusting.” “”And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”" (Daniel 3.15-18 ) God CAN deliver us and we may pray that He will. But even if He doesn’t, He is STILL OUR GOD, and our prayer is really that HIS will be done. (Luke 22.42)
Seek His presence (not his “presents”) in your Life. Earnestly seek His presence through your pain with a contrite heart. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51.17) Keep your eyes on the Giver and not the gifts. I pray that He will manifest Himself to you and through you to those who need Him and earnestly seek Him. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1.27)
And when should we pay? Always – about everything. “Pray at all times.” Ephesians 6.18 “Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long.” Ephesians 6.14-18 (The Message)
Psalm 51.17 refers to a “broken spirit”. We will talk about that soon.
