God Answers Prayers

Chica has a way of capturing my attention and heart, even when I am deeply involved with other things. She happens to be my Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix, who has me wrapped around her little paw. If you have a beloved fur-clad child, you know exactly what I mean.

She is not obnoxious with her requests. She doesn't whine or bark at me; she simply places herself in my line of sight and focuses on my eyes. When I glance at her, she will make her request known by placing her ball at my feet or tilting her head slightly and licking her lips while shifting her gaze between my plate and my face.

She doesn't just believe that will grant her request; she knows it, based upon her years of experience with me. Her belief in my goodness causes me to want to give her the desire of her heart. Of course, I don't always give her exactly what she is asking for because sometimes it would not be good for her, but I always try to give her something she will be happy with.

So too with God. There are numerous promises in God's word that let me know He wants to and will answer my sincere pleas. I will not attempt to list them all, but here are two of the most well-known.

Luke 11:9,10 KJV 

[9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. [10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 21:22 KJV  

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Often there are conditions to be met, and it's important to read each promise in context, always seeking to obey God's expressed will found in His Holy Word. But there are certain requests that God will always answer affirmatively. God promises that He will always come to our rescue when we call upon Him in faith.

Hebrews 7:25 KJV

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

God always either gives us what we ask for or something better. Since He knows all things and can see the end from the beginning, what we think we want/need is not always what is best for us. One of my favorite authors makes this statement, "God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him." (Ministry of Healing pg. 479.2)

When I was young, I went through a long period of open rebellion against God. I had been very disappointed with the circumstances of my life and foolishly blamed Him. But even though I had chosen to live in opposition to His will, that did not stop Him from coming to my rescue in a mighty way.

One cold morning, a couple of friends and I decided to take our horses out for a ride. It was a beautiful brisk day, and as we turned our horses toward home, they significantly picked up their pace, transitioning from a trot to a lope.

This final stretch found us riding on cold blacktop and without borium on our horses' shoes for traction, it made the surface very slick. As we saw a car coming fast toward us, we tried to ease our horses out of the way. I was terrified to see my friend's horse, who was slightly ahead and to my left, begin to slide as if on ice. All four legs were scrabbling for purchase. As I came even with them, I was horror-struck to witness her horse fall hard on its side, landing upon my friend and causing her bare head to crack hard upon the pavement. 

I leaped from my horse in mid-flight, and as I ran back toward her, she began to have a seizure. Before I reached her and cushioned the blows with my hand, her head had slammed against the road twice more. When the seizure ended, I realized blood was gushing from her head and forming a steady stream across the road. I pressed my fingers against the wound in an attempt to slow the blood loss, but my fingers disappeared into her skull. So, I extracted my fingers and slid the heel of my hand against the gaping hole. My stomach rolled, and tears burst forth as I desperately tried to find a pulse. There was no pulse or breath. I looked at my friend's sister, who was along for the ride, and quickly instructed her to call an ambulance. Then I decided to cry out to God before starting CPR. As I ended my quick prayer, I saw my friend take a breath, and her eyes flickered open. 

There were many more frantic moments as we waited anxiously for the ambulance. But by the time they arrived, almost 45 minutes later, she was alert and talking, and the flow of blood had all but ceased. At the hospital, they disbelieved my account of her seizure and fractured skull because upon examination, they found only a small cut that required a couple of stitches before they sent her home an hour later. 

Where did the gaping hole go? I know God answered my prayer, restored her life, and healed that deadly wound. I remain in shock and awe of His mercy and love and His willingness to come to our rescue at the desperate request of a rebellious sinner like me.

God is so good it blows my mind.  Trust Him, He loves you and He will come to your rescue without fail when you cry out to Him.

Bonnie Morsette ~ April 14, 2023