During a recent Sunday School discussion, one of my classmates reminded us that “warring is continuous”. Opposite principles or states such as good and evil, right and wrong, success and failure, love and indifference, or faith and fear are constantly dueling for the top-ranking position within our hearts and minds. However, our lives are seldom all good or all bad – it is typically a continual combination of both. In his popular book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren likens this phenomenon to the intersecting rails of a train track. Like those rails, we cannot simply extract the difficult or unpleasant parts of our lives. Doing so hinders our ability to move forward.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of unexpected seasons of transition – ones in which God is applying a level of heat and pressure that is not only uncomfortable, but downright discouraging. He allows that fire in order to remove impurities – some of the habits, mindsets, or distractions -that would hinder the ways in which He ultimately plans to use us to bless His kingdom. Zechariah 13:9 says “This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

The Lord created us which means that He knows us intimately. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Isaiah 42:5 says “This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:” Therefore, whether they are initially perceived as positive or negative, the Lord knows exactly which situations to allow or orchestrate to shape us into the person He has called us to be. Isaiah 64:8 says “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

In these difficult, stressful seasons, instead of giving in to a natural inclination to distance ourselves from God – either out of frustration, worry, disappointment, weariness, fear or hurt – we must cling to God more than ever! We must trust in His word and confess that trust on a daily basis. We must release that overwhelming situation to the Lord and hold fast to His promises. Do you know how you can tell that you’re on the verge of a breakthrough? By the increased level of struggle! The more that we feel we are struggling, the closer we are to gaining relief through God’s fulfillment. During those struggles, it is critical to persist in prayer – acknowledging your need for God’s intervention. When you feel that you are simply too devastated to pray, solicit the prayers of those you trust to intercede on your behalf – up to and including Jesus and The Holy Spirit. Did you know that Jesus AND The Holy Spirit serve as our intercessors? According to Romans 8:34 “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”  and Romans 8:36 states “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 through wordless groans.” Even in our darkest hour, we should continue to petition the Lord about our concerns. Colossians 4:12 says “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”

The good news is that our heavenly Father is present through every phase of our lives. Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us that “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Finally, we can abide in the knowledge that even the most difficult seasons in our lives are intended to ultimately benefit us as stated in Romans 8:28 which says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I encourage you to persist in prayer until your breakthrough comes. Then glorify God and share your testimony when your breakthrough transcends from dream to reality. Get ready because your breakthrough is coming!

In times of uncertainty, we tend to cling to whatever gives us a sense of security. The routines associated with jobs, habits, relationships, activities, or causes can provide comfort in the midst of other storms. Without thinking about it, these aspects of our lives become our safety nets because they conveying a sense of normalcy. When the unexpected occurs, these other areas offer a sense of peace.  The trouble is, none of these things can effectively serve as our true anchor because each contains its own measure of unpredictability.

Our God is a jealous god who doesn’t want anyone nor anything glorified above Him. Although He gives us free will, He wants to hold the #1 place in our hearts. He wants to be acknowledged for the many ways that He blesses us. Exodus 34:13 says “Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” We are sometimes guilty of glorifying the gift above the Giver of the Gift. James 1:17 says “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” That means our Lord is unchanging. He is faithful and consistent. Malachi 3:6 says “I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”

Given that we serve a faithful, unchanging God – why would we cling to anything else? Also because the Lord our God is Jealous, He will strip away anything that gives us a false sense of security because He wants us to learn to depend on Him as our source of peace, safety, security, protection, provision, healing, and total well being. In my own life, the Lord has previously stripped away my employment, my residence, and even close relationships to teach me how to fully depend on him. Once I began understanding that the Lord is the true source and center of my joy – my prayer life changed. I began to tell God how much I trusted him in every area of my life. Once I spiritually handed over the reins and converted from those old ragged safety nets that I used to use, blessings began to overtake me! The Lord collapsed those artificial safety nets in my life to re-establish himself as my constant and unbreakable safety net.

Through our own series of life experiences, God teaches us about the dangers of holding those other false safety nets in high regard. For example, after losing my job – a job that I enjoyed and found meaningful – I no longer just wanted a job, I wanted to work in the organization and role that He has destined for me. My prayers shifted from what I wanted to what God wanted. Our Heavenly Father strategically collapses our weak, ill-developed safety nets to encourage us to shift gears and adopt HIM as our ultimate safety net – one that never breaks, rots, or tears. When we pray, we can trust our flawed, limited selves to a flawless and unlimited God. We can confess our previous wrongdoing, then pray in anticipation of Him moving mightily to restore every area of our lives. Thankfully for us, there is no case, no situation, beyond the reach of God’s eternal safety net. When we prayerfully confess our shortcomings, ask for His forgiveness, put our trust in Him, and make our desires to please and edify Him known, He will anchor us, shield us, protect us, and make a way for us. Isn’t it exciting that the Master of the Universe, the One who speaks things into existence, hears and answers our prayers, and is delighted when we trust in him for ALL things? In closing, let’s remember Isaiah 41:10 which speaks to these promises by saying “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Without meaning to, we can hinder our relationship with our Creator by praying outside of His will. Instead of inviting God to answer questions, address dilemmas, and provide as He sees fit, we “help” God by formulating our own solution. I call this phenomenon, The Prediction Trap.

The Prediction Trap is dangerous because it shifts our mindset from trusting God by default, to trusting God as a back-up after our own plans fail. The fault is in seeking our own will above God’s. In our limited view, we believe that we know what is best and begin steering our prayers in that direction. We pray for specific outcomes, assuming that we know what the best possible outcome is. Our prayers devolve into selfish, short-sighted, and pride-laced instructions where we attempt to steer God toward aligning with our will instead of the other way around. We make plans, then ask God to validate and bless them instead of seeking His will for the very lives that He gave to us. This futile approach can leave us feeling frustrated and defeated. Even worse, it leads to feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness where we personify God and assume He mirrors our humanistic unforgiving behavior. We become spiritually humiliated and reluctant to reconnect with God.

The good news is that you can avoid or escape this perilous trap! Not only does God know all (omniscient), but He is everywhere (omnipresent) and He is all-powerful (omnipotent). When we release our concerns to His expanded vision, wise direction, and perfect timing, God moves mightily! Furthermore, He provides a response that is intricately designed to simultaneously glorify Him and bless us. Here are a few considerations for breaking out of The Prediction Trap:

1. Acknowledge that God is the Ultimate Predictor: God’s supernatural wisdom begins where our human intelligence ends. Our Heavenly Father rationalizes and comprehends at an intellectual level that we cannot fully fathom.
   Isaiah 55:8-9 says that “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

2. Trust in God’s Timing: We operate on God’s timeline, not the other way around. Humans are conditioned to think in terms of defined time (chronos). God operates based on the most opportune moment (kairos). We must operate in faith, trusting that God constantly at work, orchestrating every detail of our lives in a way that best meets our needs, even those that we do not acknowledge nor recognize.
   James 5:7-8 reminds us to “ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
   
   
3. Stand on God’s Promises: Study God’s word to learn about your rights and privileges as a Child of The King. We do not have to operate under a heavy weight of guilt, shame, or regret. 1 John 1:9 clearly states that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
   Furthermore, God is not like man. He is not temperamental. He never goes back on his word. Number 23:19 describes God’s very character by saying “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

4. Seek God’s Will:  Start by committing yourself to the general aspects of God’s will for all Believers. The more that your relationship with God flourishes, the more insight He provides about His will for your life. Your heart can become so closely connected that His will IS your will – you begin to desire what God already has planned for you. Ephesians 5:15-17 admonishes us to “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

The Lord is faithful, forgiving, loving, gracious, and merciful. He eagerly awaits our heartfelt petitions to save, bless, encourage, deliver, heal, protect, provide, and restore. He meets us at our point of need and vows to never leave nor forsake us. He grants us wisdom whenever we ask. You do NOT have to fall into a trap. God has the resources of the universe at His disposal to address the very same situation that you tried to resolve in your finite human power.

Part of Revelation 12:11 reminds us that we triumph over the enemy “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony”. In the official, literal sense testimony means sharing our experiences with others – telling others how God has made a difference in our life. We each have our own journey and path filled with peaks and valleys. Our testimony is a means to encourage others by sharing how God orchestrated our highest peaks and comforted us in our lowest valleys. God is ever-present. He is faithful through our highs and lows. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us that he’ll “never leave nor forsake us”.

However, I fully believe that our testimony is not just to inspire others. I also believe that reflecting and meditating on God’s grace, mercy, goodness, provision, and protection also means reminding ourselves of our own personal gospel – a captivating story from our birth to death that is a powerful testament to God’s goodness. When we face difficult or discouraging situations, we need to remind ourselves about how much God has already brought us through; how He has already blessed us; kept us, nurtured us; sustained us; and saved us. The enemy wants to distract you and trick you into thinking your current crisis is permanent. He wants to steal your joy and peace. Most importantly he wants to disrupt your relationship with God. He wants to sabotage that sacred relationship because such a relationship with our heavenly father is one that he won’t ever have again. Since his relationship is already ruined, he wants to steal yours away by disrupting, discouraging, and deceiving as much as possible. Keeping you engrossed in the current crisis instead of allowing you to momentarily pause and consider the situation across a greater scale – keeps you operating in a reactive mode of deficiency. In addition to the immediate crisis, you find yourself battling a platoon of accompanying hinderances – all of which threaten your sense of peace and well-being. When you aren’t doing well, those around you suffer also, creating a dangerous, spiritual domino effect.

We approach some situations with a dreadful attitude for one of two reasons – either it’s a new situation that takes us completely by surprise or it feels like the recurrence of an old situation that is emotionally jarring. Either way, we must faithfully abide and take comfort in the fact that the Lord can bring us through any situation. In our humanness, it is very easy to open the door to worry, frustration, and fear. Yet, when we train ourselves and cultivate our spiritual memory, we can actually be in prayerful anticipation of God’s resolution to the current crisis.

Here are some tips for cultivating your spiritual memory:

• Identify a reflection point that expresses your faith – it can be a song, poem, picture, scripture, or something else you choose. The point is that it must be something that reminds you of the faithfulness of the Lord.
• Document your victories – it doesn’t have to be a dissertation, but keeping a written record of your situations and resolutions will eventually bless you with a record of your breakthroughs, victories, spiritual growth, and moments of grace.
• Adopt a survivor mindset – if you are still here to tell the story then it didn’t kill you. You are a survivor. You are NOT the culminating history of your failures. You are the manifestation of God’s grace and mercy. You are full of promise, even as you go about seeking God’s direction for your purpose.

Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Remind yourself of your own spiritual victories as you progress in your journey toward becoming all that your heavenly Creator designed you to be.

Part of the journey in seeking God’s will involves waiting to learn His will. Everything from small victories to a major breakthrough requires perseverance in the midst of anticipation and distraction. In some cases, we are awaiting an event that is commonly perceived as negative, yet it ultimately brings strong spiritual benefits. In fact, James 1:2-4 tells us to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Although it sometimes feels like that that unwelcome health diagnosis, financial downturn, legal notice, relationship conflict, or even loved one’s death will consume us, it is actually an opportunity to experience God’s amazing grace. As the gospel of our own lives is written, the question becomes how to pray when we find ourselves in the midst of such a dry spell. Oftentimes, as the main concern saps our energy and attention, many of the offshoot branches of our lives shrivel up as well. For example, financial woes can lead to relationship conflict. Operating in a minimalistic survival mode changes our spiritual momentum. Without intending to, we may find ourselves in a far drier place than we ever imagined. It is difficult to focus on the goodness of the Lord when it’s challenging to focus at all. This is where the enemy does some of his best work: as the Accuser, he constantly reminds you of previous failures. Then he shifts into his Deceiver mode, working to discourage you by convincing you that your temporary pain is permanent. He knows that you are in a dry place and he is relentless, tormenting you with accusations, heightening your anxiety, and magnifying your fears. You are under attack which is NOT synonymous with being defeated. Evidently, the enemy has identified a worthy opponent! The enemy recognizes your strength, even when you don’t.

When you find yourself in a spiritual desert, you must:

1. Saturate yourself with the truth of the Living Word. Read the Bible to remind yourself of God’s promises – His faithfulness. Don’t propose your own solutions, instead ask our Heavenly Father for wisdom. Proverbs 3:7-8 says “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
2. Submit to God. Acknowledge that you are trusting Him with the situation. Romans 8:28 tells us that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Psalm 112:6-7 says “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
3. Thank God for his faithful and loving presence, even as He initiates a new (planned or unplanned) chapter of your life. Isaiah 43:19 says “See, I am doing a new thing!
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness
   and streams in the wasteland.”
4. Remember who you are. You are a child of the Most High, more than a conqueror, fearfully and wonderfully made! Choirs and praise teams often sing praises to God, but did you realize that He sings over us? Zephaniah 3:17 says “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you;
   in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

I’m praying that you will recall this loving admonition and saturate yourself in the scripture to counteract your next dry spell!

After greeting and acknowledging God when we first approach His throne of grace, the next element of our prayer conversation should be an act of purification. We are constantly in engaged in a struggle between operating in our spiritual ideals and sinful nature. Romans 7:21 expresses this struggle as “ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” One of the greatest spiritual dangers is believing that because we are “good people” we are not simultaneously guilty of sin. We commit sin in a variety of ways – by our thoughts, our words, as well as our actions. We can commit sin knowingly or unknowingly. We can commit sin by what we do as well as what we fail to do. Some people believe that being a nice person or having good intentions is good enough to secure our spot in heaven. That is a deceptive suggestion from the enemy! Roman 3:23  states “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Thanks be to God, each day we get a new chance, a new opportunity to get it right, to grow another step closer in our journey from salvation to sanctification. It is paramount that we optimize our potential spiritual growth each day by cultivating spiritual disciplines including bible study (discipleship), prayer, nurturing relationships with others (fellowship), worship, and service.  Each day carries a combination of successes and failures in obeying God’s commandments. Whenever we miss the mark, we are guilty of sin. The more we grow in our relationship with God, the stronger our connection to God’s Holy Spirit, the more easily we can identify when we’ve missed the mark and committed sin in one way or another. Hebrews 3:13 says we should “…encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” That arrogant voice that assures you that you are justified in your unforgiveness, rudeness, self-righteousness, etc. is simply the enemy trying to delay your access to the freedom from sin through repentance.

When we pray, we must acknowledge our sins and ask God’s forgiveness before petitioning Him about any other needs. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Confessing our sins and seeking God’s forgiveness eliminates spiritual burdens and distractions. It renews a right spirit within us and allows us to fully focus on presenting needs to God and hearing His instructions.

Would you bake a traditional turkey using rotten food for the stuffing mixture? Of course not! Yet, when we attempt to pray without repenting, we are doing the same thing – focusing on the presentable outside appearance or perception when the Lord can distinguish those rotting, festering sins inside our hearts. We must address those issues within ourselves before seeking the Lord’s direction and intervention with concerns outside of ourselves. The beauty is, removing those ugly, personal, sinful areas creates space for marvelous godly things in our lives – new hopes and dreams, as well as the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says that “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

We may as well be honest and transparent with the Lord about our sins, fears, and failures. He can see it all anyway. Hebrews 4:13 says “ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”  God is not impressed nor deterred by outward appearances, He looks at the heart. Asking God to perform heart surgery – to forgive our sins and heal those wounded places – sets the atmosphere for a rich and rewarding prayer life.

Praying effectively means praying with sincerity. Prayer is not a speech, it is a petition for intervention. God is not impressed by our vocabulary, title, name, influential friends, residence, nor attire.  Who gives any gift expressing more concern for the gift than the recipient? Instead, God is impressed by sincerity. The truth is that we are always exposed before God no matter how others may perceive us. There is no need to hide anything from God, no matter how difficult, shameful, or disappointing because our Creator – the One who operates in and out of time – knows about it anyway. Our prayers are not to inform God, but to reinforce our own belief by inviting His will into every situation that burdens our hearts.

Early in our faith journey, we may operate as though we are courteously bringing issues to God’s attention. God is GOD! Our Divine Creator is not a celestial genie who created us and the universe, then abandoned us for another project. In fact, Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us that “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Prayer is a vehicle to recognize divinity within ourselves and connect to the source of said divinity. Simply put, prayer is “powering up”. Prayer allows us to connect to the source of our divine power, and invite God into every situation that concerns us. Prayer is an exercise in connecting with God. The more often we pray, the more connected we are, the more power we have. The same way that we become concerned when a physical battery runs low, we need to do a spiritual power check and seek God to power up our spiritual batteries.

In our prayer time, the first order of business is to ask God to cleanse our heart. Hebrews 10:22 reminds us to”…draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”

We must ask God to perform divine heart surgery. God needs a heart that is willing to obey him, that is pliable and warm. You cannot have a brittle, selfish heart hardened by disappointment, pride, and fear, then in the next breath ask for God’s intervention. Prayer must occur from the inside out. It must start with condition of our own heart before petitioning our Lord about any other thing. Cultivating your heart – asking him to remove scars from past hurts, to tear down emotional walls you’ve built out of self-defense, to forgive those who you feel have wronged you – means that you are keeping it real with your Creator. This does not discount your struggle or pain, but rather releases it so that it no longer has control over you and your ability to enjoy the precious life that God gave you.

Oftentimes, God brings specific prayer concerns to our attention. We pray for the individual situation and continue about our day, not recognizing that the original request is just the tip of the iceberg. Ecclesiastes 1:9 reminds us that “…there is nothing new under the sun”. Some of the nuances may change, but the issues that throw humankind off course have existed since Adam and Eve left Eden.

In our prayer lives, we need to consider the original situation because it motivates us to connect with our Creator. The prayer is for us as well as the person who is the subject of the petition. Praying for others helps us to spiritually grow and mature, especially as we present needs to the Lord for those who are sometimes so involved in a crisis that they are unable to focus and ask God to intervene regarding the need. Yet, the Lord invites us to go even further. Instead of only praying for the situation relating to our direct knowledge, how different would the world be if we prayed for everyone else facing a similar situation? Think about it. If your friend Greg lost his job, you could expand your prayer to not only cover Greg, but everyone else in Greg’s situation. You could take it a step even further and pray for the family, finances, favor, protection, and peace of Greg and everyone like him. You amplify your prayer by extending the petition to all those affected by the same need or concern.

As you go before the Lord in prayer, recognize that you have the power to take your prayer full circle, praying for a range of people and needs far beyond the original one. There is no distance in the spirit realm. You have the freedom to pray for needs as they occur to you, regardless of where they occur.  I hope that you begin to employ this method of praying full circle. By the authority of Jesus, You can bless God’s kingdom more than you ever realized.

Society emphasizes the importance of image. Social media gives us the ability to selectively present ourselves at our most positive and accomplished. We post statuses that include promotions, fun gatherings, delicious meals, and exciting trips. We rarely post moments of self-doubt, adversity, or disappointment. Abraham Lincoln stated “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” We cannot fool the Lord at all.

When we go before the Lord – the strong and successful image that we like to portray for others is meaningless. The Lord created us and knows us intimately. In fact, Luke 12:7 begins “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are numbered…” The truth is that nothing is hidden from the Lord. He knows our desires, triumphs, vulnerabilities and temptations. He knows our heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 ends “…for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God not only knows us, He knows our motives. We must go before Him with absolute humility. We must be honest about the issues of our heart. God is a big guy! He can handle the honest, brutal truth as we know it. He can help us in those areas where we struggle. He can heal us from regret, shame, disappointment, and every imaginable kind of misstep.

Sometimes we become discouraged when God doesn’t respond to a prayer request as or when we expect. We don’t realize that we can come into conflict with God when we place our will above God’s will. We become a victim of our own pride. James 4:3 says “You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.” The key is to seek God’s will for our lives.

We must approach God with humility – recognizing Him as our sovereign Creator and acknowledging our need for His intervention in our lives. John 15:5 explains our dependency on God where Jesus says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Whether we  recognize it or not, we are constantly operating in God’s grace.

Acknowledging our dependency on God breaks the yoke of a prideful spirit. This humbling is liberating, freeing us up to focus on God’s will for our lives. We shift from praying our will to praying God’s will. We merely present our needs to God, trusting in Jeremiah 29:11 which states “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When we are aligned in intimate relationship with God, we desire the very things He has already prepared for us. His responses delight us because it is what we genuinely want. He’s delighted to grant us those desires because we invite Him to deliver a blessing that already has our name on it – custom made and prepared just for us! God’s blessings typically exceed whatever immediate relief we’re seeking anyway. We serve a “greater than” God who operates with a far broader vision than we ever could. We need only trust in His will. Praying with humility and aligning with God’s will allows us to pray with joyous expectation, living Matthew 7:7 which says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”