In John 15:7 (NLT), Jesus Christ imparts a jewel of truth about the power of earnest prayer: “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” Remaining in Christ means prioritizing God’s Will above all else in our lives. This deep commitment to our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ ensures that our desires align with His divine plan and purpose. It signifies that our requests are not just personal agendas or aspirations, but they’ve been evaluated in light of His Word and yielded to the Father, allowing Him to transform our requests into manifestations of His Will.
There’s nothing random about our lives. As Jesus assures us in Matthew 10:29-30 (NLT), “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.” This reminds us that every detail of our lives is under God’s watchful care. Everything and anything in our lives requires prayer. Our Heavenly Father encourages us to maintain constant communication with Him, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT): “Never stop praying.” In Philippians 4:6 (NLT), He further instructs us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” This guidance underscores that nothing is too small or too large to bring before God. He invites us to involve Him in every aspect of our lives, reinforcing that no concern is exempt from His attention and our prayers.
Many single women express frustration, saying, “I’ve prayed to God for years for a good man but don’t look like it’s ever going to happen for me.” We might have prayed a lot, but have we truly had faith in each prayer we’ve offered to our Heavenly Father? Have we approached our prayers with authority, conviction, and earnestness? And most importantly, have we prayed according to God’s Will, asking that His Will is fulfilled in our lives?
God’s top priority for us is always our spiritual growth in Jesus Christ. Everything we pray for should be in line with what He wants for us first and foremost. That’s what it really means to pray in faith. Sometimes, though, we have things in our hearts that hold us back from fully trusting. We might struggle with insecurities, habits, thoughts, and attitudes that push us more toward fear than faith. But with the Holy Spirit living in us, we have the power to change direction, and God wants us to take that step.
Jesus Christ said in Mark 11:22-24 (NLT), “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” Insecurities, jealousy, envy, selfishness, stubbornness can all hold us back. They are all forms of doubt, and that doubt must be removed from our hearts in order for faith to expand and cause our desires to manifest.
After years of praying without seeing the manifestation of your desires, consider wrapping your prayers with greater faith in God’s plan and purpose for your life. When you pray, place your desires in God’s hands and thank Him for handling them according to His Will. Whenever you think about it, take delight in how God will work everything out for your good. Don’t allow doubt to slip in. Really feel the joy and fulfillment that Christ has given you through the Holy Spirit, because what you have received from our Lord and Savior is real and lasting. Focus on God through the joy of Christ. See God how Jesus sees and adores Him and keep this mindset. As your confidence in God grows, you’ll be transformed by your devotion to Him and your prayers will bear fruit that keep your heart anchored His goodness. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“After Years of Praying” , written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack and KLizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.