Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

~Philippians 4:6 NASB

I had come to the point of desperation during a hurtful time in my life. My constant prayer was, “God, hold on to me! I’m afraid my hands will slip, and I won’t be able to hold on to You.”

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.God Answers Desperate Prayers

And, you know what? He did hold on to me. He did not tell me to get myself together. He did not tell me the situation was of my own making. No, He did not.

I cannot explain it but, in my spirit, I laid my head on God’s chest, and He gathered me in His arms and held me close, just as a parent would hold a beloved child. My situation did not immediately go away, but the comfort I received from knowing God was holding me close encouraged me to want to stay close to Him and to stay in His word.

I learned from this that God answers even our most desperate prayers. Here are some other concepts I’ve learned as I’ve spent time with Him. I hope you will benefit from reading them:

God Answers in Unexpected Ways

God answers our prayers, usually in unexpected ways. He has a way of wanting to surprise us with answers that are far better than anything we ever expect them to be.

God knows us better than we know ourselves, and He loves to delight us with good things, just as we love to delight our children with good things. He is a big God, and He can do anything He wants to do. He is passionate about us and loves to please us. He smiles over us and delights in us.

Of course, the most important prayer is the one of repentance, where we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us. Oh, He loves to do that! He will never turn anyone away who sincerely comes before Him and prays that prayer.

God Wants our Companionship

This is a two-way street. God wants us to listen to Him when He speaks, He wants to be involved in every part of our life, and He has things He wants to do in and through us. A period of silence is essential when we pray, so we can listen to God as He speaks.

One way we can hear God speak is to pray with an open Bible. As we seek answers, He may impress upon our hearts to read certain Scriptures. As we read His word and pray, we can gain insight into His will for us in the things we are facing.

One of the things I like to do is to write down the things I believe God is speaking into my heart. Journaling is a wonderful way to record our prayers. And, I’m often I’m amazed when I look back and see how He has answered my prayers.

God is Concerned with our Daily Needs

Years ago I learned the person who had been carpooling with me was moving. I began praying for someone to carpool with me who was also a Christian. I got a call the very next day from a friend who asked if I had room in my car for someone who had just moved to my area.

After getting her contact information I called and invited her to have lunch with me, so we could get to know one another. As we sat down with our burgers, she asked if I minded her saying a prayer. She went on to tell me that she and her family were Christians. This was confirmation. God had answered my prayer and, as a result, this person became one of my best friends.

God Can Give us Mountaintop Experiences

When Jesus went up on the mountain with His best friends, his inner circle of Peter, James, and John, He went up to pray, to spend time in the presence of God, His Father. As He spent time with God that day, Jesus took on the glory of God. If Jesus, fully human while He was on Earth, could be transformed by spending time with the Father then we, fully human, can also be transformed by spending time with God.

What a witness for the Lord we will be if we shine like the Son of God with the joy of the Lord, after spending time in conversation with Him. As others see the light of Jesus shine through us, they are drawn to Him.

Is spending time in prayer with your Heavenly Father a priority in your life?

Father God, help me to make it a priority to meet with You in prayer, daily. Give me the desire to take all my concerns, fears, and desperation to You. Let me seek You and be anxious for nothing as I give You thanksgiving and praise.

In the exalted name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Genre: Non-Fiction

Copyright 2021: Prayer Basics: Evelyn Mason Wells: All Rights Reserved