Answered Prayer

Matthew 6:8 – Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him. (GNB)

While on summer holidays, we sleep in a tent. Although it occasionally presents difficulties, it is usually an enjoyable and economical way to travel. Our family travels and sightsees all day, then stops in the evening to set up the tent. This routine has usually been satisfactory, although at times I have been disappointed.

Because we often don't stop until evening, on many occasions the prime camping locations in a campground have already been taken. One evening, we had to set up camp in a wide open space, instead of in a cooler, shaded area. Here, I could see that the morning sun would beat down on the tent and heat it to unbearable temperatures. Another time, I would have preferred an ocean-view site, as opposed to the one in the woods which we were assigned.

Often, God's answers to our prayers are not what we expect. On the night we camped out in the open, we experienced torrential rains. Although all our things were soggy, we fared quite well, because the field we were in was on high ground. The lovely, shaded spots I had wanted were in a hollow and were awash with ankle-deep puddles of water that would have saturated everything. On the night I would have chosen an ocean-view instead of the woods, the gentle sea breeze strengthened to strong winds that would have threatened to blow our tent over. Yet we were safely sheltered amongst the protective cover of the trees.

God knows our needs even before we do. He always answers our prayers, but it may not be what we were expecting. If we listen, we will always hear an answer.

Matthew 7:11 – How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (GNB)

Prayer: Loving God, we come to You often, asking. You know our needs even before we ask. Give us patience and understanding, as what is right for us is often not what we want. Amen.

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