How to Get an Answer 3

How to Get an Answer 3
Brad Reiches
Mar 26 2007 07:00PM

ATTENTION ALL PASTORS AND CHURCH INFLUENCERS!

I have a deeply heartfelt request that I believe has been promted by our Lord.

"Would you prayerfully consider asking the Elder Board of your church

to include the GodThoughts Ministry in your Missions Budget for 2008?"

Currently, the entire GodThoughts Ministry is underwritten by myself, our partners, and Willow Spring Church.  Each year we freely provide thousands of dollars of discipleship resources all over the world.  Our only limitations are financial.

Has GodThoughts been an asset to you and your ministry?  Do you believe in this ministry?  All of our financials are open and accountable.  I would love to send a "presentation package" to your Board.  Or, better yet,  would you allow me to come to your church personally, at our cost, and give a presentation to your Board face to face.

It's true...we couldn't be more serious about maximizing what God is clearly blessing.  Is it time for your church to join us in the privilege/resposibility?

Sincerely,

Pastor Brad

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

GodThoughtsWired!

"How to get an Answer!"

Increasing the Odds of Answered Prayer:  3

#3  The willingness to let God answer in His own time.

"Many of life's failures are men who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up."
- Thomas Edison

I believe that too often we tend think that when God says "wait," He is saying no.  The ancient sage Habakkuk admonishes us that, "The vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it.  For it will certainly come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3).

Why does God  sometimes respond to our prayers by telling us to wait?  Some Biblical case studies of why God sometimes says "WAIT" would be: 

-To prepare you for the answer (i.e. Noah, Genesis 7:6).  Sometimes God is ready...but you're not!

-To prepare others for the answer (i.e. Jonah, Jonah 3:10).  Sometimes you're ready, but those influenced or impacted by your prayer are not.

-To test our faith (i.e. Israelites, Deuteronomy 8:3).  Sometimes the only way to get our faith to grow, is for God to place us in a position where we must place our trust in what we don't yet see.

-To produce endurance and maturity (i.e. David, James 1-2-4).  Sometimes God has bigger plans than we do.

-To develop our character (i.e. Moses, Romans 5:3-5).  God is always operating with an eternal perspective.

"Through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Hebrews 6:12

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