The Men of Iron Minute
by Chad George | Senior Videographer
Prayer Through Opportunities
“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 (ESV)
When I think about prayer, I think of this quote from the movie Evan Almighty:
“If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If they prayed for courage does God give them courage or does he give them opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for their family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?”
I love this quote from the movie because I think it offers us a perspective into how God works in us. This struck me recently when I was praying for patience to stay calm when I knew my son would ask me repeatedly to go fishing Saturday morning. Unfortunately, the stress of my week caught up and I wasn’t as calm when he asked to go. We went fishing but I wasn’t present.
So, I prayed that the next time I would stay calm. I didn’t. Then a third time came, same deal, then finally by the fourth week of him asking, I learned to set aside my problems and be present with him. The answer to my prayer.
I had multiple opportunities from God to be a supportive father for him, and it wasn’t until I was presented with the same scenario over and over, I learned how to manage my emotions and enjoy the time together.
Maybe your prayer is more serious than mine, but I think the moral of the story is..
Prayer with action could have a major impact on your life.
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