God Speaking

“I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.”

(Ezekiel 34: 26)

I was reading an interesting devotional on prayer, recently, and was intrigued when the author introduced a phrase that made me stop and think more deeply about. The phrase was this;

Unprayed for answers

The author was wanting us to look more clearly at our lives when unexpected, but really, important occurrences happen to us. She wanted us to see that our Loving Father knows exactly what is right for us and even though we may not have prayed for these sometimes, inexplicable happenings, they have come from him and acknowledging this by praising and thanking him brings even greater blessings.

As I was looking at my own life I suddenly thought of this, my weekly blog. A few years ago I didn’t even know what a blog was. I love writing and I love God’s word, but, actually doing anything with this desire did not occur to me until one of my sons-in-law suggested I write a blog. With his help this became possible and my heart overflows with praise for a Father who filled an un-prayed for answer and a son-in-law who was the instrument in making it happen.

There are lovely examples of Jesus’ compassion in answering the unspoken need. Jesus sees a woman so badly crippled for eighteen years she was unable to even straighten up.  She doesn’t beg Jesus to heal her, but when he places his hands on her, blessed healing takes place and she can straighten up;

“Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” (Luke 13: 13)

Sometimes we may have given up praying in despair of an answer, but still the Lord is ready to even answer silence. Jesus had great pity for another woman whose son had died and again answers another unspoken need.

“When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” (Luke 7: 13 – 15) 

Of course, the article I was reading did not imply we stop asking God for what is burdening our hearts, but was urging us to be more aware of the goodness the Lord pours out on his people. To make note of blessings in our lives and not put it down to coincidence, but give God the glory.

Our beautiful access to the Father is through the Holy Spirit and I love the way Paul urges us to remember that even though we may not know what to pray the Sprit does, and we can all take great comfort in these words;

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Roman 8: 26)