Thank God for unanswered prayers

Much has been written about the power of prayer and the beneficial purpose of such activity. The Bible offers detailed instruction on how to pray earnestly, to be specific and to expect a positive outcome (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). For many, prayer is offered up conditionally and usually accompanied with a less-than-sincere promise (“God, if you’ll do this, then I’ll never do that again”). The Lord doesn’t bargain, fortunately, and prayers are not answered in order to simply change behavior or absolve guilt. The purpose of prayer is to help grow a relationship with God (Philippians 4:6), one in which He knows what is best. In exchange, we must acknowledge that He has our individual interests at heart and is directing our lives in order to execute His perfect plan for mankind -- a plan that ultimately brings all glory to Him (Daniel 4:34). The result of answered prayer can reinforce awareness and strengthen the bond with our Creator. The results of unanswered prayer, as defined by man’s own limited understanding, will be revealed soon enough at a time of His choosing. Both are certain to amaze and astound and we must thank God for listening, even when His reply may not be exactly what we want to hear.

His truth is marching on

Veterans Day celebrations this past week allowed a chance to recognize those friends, family and loved ones who have or are serving in our military as well as honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives to defend the freedoms we continue to enjoy today. You didn’t have to spend time in the service, however, to realize that physical battles in places like Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only wars currently being waged (Matthew 4:10). The Bible presents numerous examples of people actively engaged in the defense of their beliefs (Jeremiah 46:3). We are even instructed to arm ourselves with the weaponry appropriate for fighting the spiritual battle against an evil and unseen enemy who would like nothing more than to take us down, exploiting our human weaknesses and destroying our hope and faith (Ephesians 6:10-18). Attending a parade in celebration of our heroes is a great way to pay tribute to the men and women who have represented this nation in uniform throughout our history, but it’s the unsung who just as fiercely guard their hearts and prepare their minds that merit a salute of gratitude for fighting the good fight and upholding the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.