I was in food store. A thought flashed across my mind, “Buy celery.” I argued in my head. We don’t like celery.” The thought came again. “Buy celery.” I argued again. “When I buy celery, we throw most of it away.”
My young daughter came home with a note from her teacher. “Can you please send celery to school tomorrow?”
I learned a lesson that day. When an idea or thought just doesn’t make sense, it could be from God.
“I called and they would not hear, so they called and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 7:13).”
Take time to listen.
Moses left Pharoah’s court and pleaded with the Lord. The Lord responded by shifting the wind, and the strong west wind blew the locusts into the Red Sea (Exodus 10:18-19).
Sometimes God changes the natural world in response to our prayers. He can do anything!
Here’s how the Israelites worshiped God when He delivered them:
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously . . .
The Lord will reign forever and ever (Exodus 15:1-18)!”
Worship when God answers you.
The Lord had not yet delivered the Israelites, but, “When they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped (Exodus 4:31).
People who are convinced God will answer their prayers worship as they wait.
Even now my witness is in heaven.
My advocate is there on high.
I pour out my tears to God (Job 16:19-20).
I read Job 38-40 as though God were speaking to me. I was silenced and overwhelmed by God’s greatness.
Here’s some of what God asked:
Where you there when I laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4)?
Have you ever commanded the morning to appear (Job 38:12)?
Do you know where the gates of death are located (Job 38:17)?
Are you as strong as God (Job 40:9)?
What is your response?
Job said, “I call on God and expect an answer (Job 12:4).”
God said, “My servant Job has spoken accurately about me (from Job 42:7).”
As I looked through my journal, I read, “My daughter is sick. I don’t know why. Lord, you do! When you were here you healed people from morning to night. You are able to heal her. Are you willing?”
She’s better now. I almost forgot she had been sick.
My journal reminded me to pray, “Thank you, Lord, for healing our daughter! You are the Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26).”
Her sweet four year old voice woke me from a deep sleep, “Grandma, I have to go to the bathroom.” I got up, took her hand, and we walked to the bathroom together.
When we tell God what we need, He takes our hand and walks with us.
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11).
