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Have You ever thought about vending machines? I know I’m weird, but thinking about their reliability… for the most part if you put money in , and press the button of your selected item out comes what you expect , ( unless you’re on an episode of “The Office”)
There are occasions where you push that button and the wrong thing comes out and sometimes a candy bar comes out instead of your choice . Being honest , I’m not too upset whenever it’s something sweet, because typically I try to pick the healthiest choice , so if I get candy it’s meant to be!!
I think this is what our prayer life is like .. We pray certain prayers expecting certain outcomes and then when it’s not what we expect, there is some disappointment… But what if we looked at the answered prayers we get as being exactly what God wanted us to have ?? Kind of like a happy mistake of a candy bar instead of the baked crackers or choice that you thought was better for you .
Oftentimes we expect certain outcomes by the way we pray as well as from the people we prayed for … and when they don’t live up to that expectation, we feel as if the prayers were not answered..
God hears all of our prayers and is sovereign….He knows what we and others need so much more !!!
Our prayers are trusting that God will fulfill his promises; Our faith is that HIS ways are better!!
Sometimes we have to look at what’s been given (dispensed ) to us and appreciate it instead of looking at what we don’t have ..
Hmmm…Gratitude… I feel sometimes when we don’t get what we think we want , it’s time for us to just be grateful for what we have been given.
Such a heart check keeps me focused on WHAT IS instead of WHAT ISN”T …
GOD IS FAITHFUL
Hebrews 10:23
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
GOD IS TRUSTWORTHY
Psalm 18:30
As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 111:7
The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure.
GOD IS GOOD
2 Samuel 7:28
Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.
Psalm 100:5
For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting , And His faithfulness to all generations.
One final thought when those prayers don’t get answered like you think they should…
Isaiah 55:8
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.