Throughout our lives we will experience many different seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, "for everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." One season commonly referred to is the 'dry season'. It is usually in that time that you find yourself emptied before God asking for a breakthrough or you will start fasting for a miracle. In that time of desperation before God many of us tend to make deals with God. We will pray things like Lord give me a car and I'll stop smoking... Lord bring me my spouse and I'll start praying consistently.. One thing about living on Earth right now is that we are constantly being bombarded by words and images promoting materialism. But really, what good is it to gain the whole world but lose your soul? Don't believe the lie that you need something to happen before you can serve God. You're waiting till you turn 25 before you commit your life to Him or till you get that job. Don't wait for it to be too late.
For me, it was friendships. I love people. I love having lots of friends and being surrounded by great and holy minds. I prayed consistently for God to send me Christian friends because at the time I felt like I had none. Being in a new city (Ottawa), it made it even harder to be alone. (You're never truly alone but that was what I was feeling). I remember being home for the summer and complaining to my mom that I had no one to hang out with. The few friends I did have were doing thing I didn't want to do and our lifestyles were so different. God was really using that time to shift my focus off of the world and onto Him. I know this because there were (and still are) great people in my life. However, at that stage I wasn't ready for the blessings of friendship that He was giving me. But because of that time of preparation, I am now able to grow in relationships, appreciate the people in my life and be myself. One thing I love about God is that He is all powerful. If God is in it and its His will, you don't need any pastor or woman or man to hand it to you. You don't need anybody except for God for it to happen. All you have to do is submit to Him and be whoever He is called you to be and the rest will just fall into place (Matthew 6:33).
Another prayer I prayed (and continue to pray) was for an enlargement of my territories in that God would surround me with people I could disciple/mentor/teach and with people I could evangelize to. Now I'm gonna be real here... These past couple months (Sept & Oct) I've been getting approached by an abnormally high number of men who I would describe as different. I was struggling with this because most of these men approaching me were those who I would most likely meet if I was still clubbing or dressing provocatively. But I wasn't doing any of those things and I wasn't putting myself in places where I should be meeting these types of men. Having so many of these encounters made me examine the reason for it. As I was talking to God a light bulb went off! 1 Peter 3:15b-16a says, "And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear." God was putting me in situations to encounter men who freely waned to talk to me. The thing is, instead of politely declining them I should've been taking time to talk to them and bring the light and truth of Jesus into our conversations. Or instead of ignoring them, taking the time to get to know them and telling them about Jesus in a way that would address their needs. So next time when they say 'oh so when am I gonna see you again' invite them to church so they can see you there! At the end of the day we are all created in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). I can't be praying for God to open doors that I might meet more lost souls and then when He begins to literally poor them my way I send them in the opposite direction.
So I'll ask again... what are you doing with your answered prayers? And are you putting in the work to maintain and be a good steward of what God had given to you?
God will answer your faith. When you pray believing that He is going to answer you even if your natural eyes can't yet understand or grasp it. And when He does, acknowledge Him for it. Give thanks to Him that He is working on your behalf with sincerity.
Stay Blessed!!
Elena Asks.
