Answered Prayers
What kind of prayers does God answer? There are several factors that lead God to answer "yes" to our requests. We see several of those factors in the prayer of Jonah from the belly of the great fish, which God prepared just for the occasion of Jonah's disobedience. (Jonah 2:1,7,10) Let's use this to learn how to pray more effectively.
Jonah was a believer, even though he decided to run from God and His command to him. God answers the prayers of those with whom He has a personal relationship. God is such a good Father. He loves to answer the prayers of His children, so often He does just that, but not always.
Jonah's prayer was a desparate prayer of deliverance. Therefore, Jonah prayed fervently and with much faith in God. Jonah had come to the very end of his ability, so He cried out in faith to God. God loves for His children to be desparate for Him. This should not happen just when we have difficult situations, though. We should be desparate to hear from the Lord each time we pray.
Jonah was finally ready to stop running and obey God. That meant his heart was ready. Often, God has to wait to answer our prayers, because we are not ready to do His will. Once we are fully ready to follow Him, He will give us the answers we seek.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jonah 3-4 and Micah 1-2.
Jonah was a believer, even though he decided to run from God and His command to him. God answers the prayers of those with whom He has a personal relationship. God is such a good Father. He loves to answer the prayers of His children, so often He does just that, but not always.
Jonah's prayer was a desparate prayer of deliverance. Therefore, Jonah prayed fervently and with much faith in God. Jonah had come to the very end of his ability, so He cried out in faith to God. God loves for His children to be desparate for Him. This should not happen just when we have difficult situations, though. We should be desparate to hear from the Lord each time we pray.
Jonah was finally ready to stop running and obey God. That meant his heart was ready. Often, God has to wait to answer our prayers, because we are not ready to do His will. Once we are fully ready to follow Him, He will give us the answers we seek.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Jonah 3-4 and Micah 1-2.