The Part We Must Play

 

We all want answers to our prayers. 

Certainly the Israelites did.  For years the Israelites prayed persistently that God would give them their promised home.  But before God parted the Jordan and gave the Promised Land, God prompted the Israelites to step into the Jordan and claim the Promised Land.  Translated: before God did His part, Israel needed to do its part. And “the Lord told Joshua…Give this command to the priests…’when you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river…”  (Joshua 3:7, NLT). 

We need to do the same:  we need to take a few steps into the river. Sure God does the heavy-lifting, God does the critical part, but we must do our part, taking some step in the direction of our deliverance.  At the very least, in the words of John Bombaro, plagiarize the Lord’s Prayer – forgive someone, stay away from temptation and the evil one.   

But beyond generic action, consider a specific action, unique to your special need.  Perhaps it’s being more active in your job search, not just praying persistently, but interviewing persistently; perhaps it’s being more active in your healing, not just praying persistently, but exercising persistently.  I know it’s a clique, but it’s true:  ‘God doesn’t drive a parked car.’  So where’s God prompting you take the next step in your deliverance – or  – the deliverance of another?

In the early days of Dallas Seminary the school was in critical need of $10,000 to keep its ‘doors open’; true story. And so a prayer meeting was held, and a prayer circle formed with renowned bible teacher Harry Ironside leading the way. “Oh Lord,” Ironside prayed.  “You own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of those cattle to help us meet this need” And with that, others chimed in and agreed.  Well in due time, the prayer meeting was over, but not before a knock was heard at the door; why it was a secretary with a special delivery. And you guessed it: it was a check for $10,000!  Turning to Ironside, a colleague mused:  “Well, Harry, I think the Lord just sold some cattle.”

Yes, praise God, the Lord sold some cattle!  But how?  Through an attentive believer, obedient to the Lord’s leading.  And so where do you need to be obedient to the Lord’s leading, either for your special need, or the special need of another?  

Bottom line: God wants us to be persistent in all ways, not only in prayer, but also in obedience to His direction and leading.