The Prayer God Answers.

[DJ]

The Prayer God Answers

Their cry for help... went up to God. (Exodus 2:23 NIV)

Just when the Israelites thought life couldn't get worse, it did!

Pharaoh withheld their straw and ordered them to produce the same daily quota of bricks. At that point three things happened:

1. "The Israelites groaned in their slavery" (Exodus 2:23). It's what we do when we feel so bad that words can't express it. We groan, first within ourselves, then to whoever will listen, finding relief in venting our frustrations. But lasting help requires more than just talking to yourself and others. So, they raised the decibel level and:
2. "Cried out... for help" (Exodus 2:23). God had seen them grit their teeth and white-knuckle it through another day. But since they were talking to everybody but Him, nothing changed. However, as soon as "their cry... went up to God... [He] heard their groaning" (Exodus 2:24). He just wanted a prayer to answer. David declared, "He hears My voice and... has inclined His ear to me... I shall call upon Him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:1-2). Instead of complaining, pray! Give God a prayer to answer and He'll answer it. "Why would God listen to someone like me?" you say. Because:
3. "God remembered His covenant with Abraham... and... took notice of them" (Exodus 2:24-25). God answered their prayers because of a covenant He made with their father. He took notice of them because they were Abraham's children. They got it 'on credit'. So do you! "God through Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). God's mercy and favour is yours today because you belong to Christ. "My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name... Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:23-24 NIV). How good is that?

David

[Seeking]

"My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name... Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:23-24 NIV)."

Yankees fan: "Please let the Yankees win the World Series. In Jesus Name I ask it. Amen." And the passage seems to be confirmed by events.

Phillies fan: "Please let the Phillies win the World Series. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen." What went wrong? Would this then contradict the passage?

Now don't get me wrong - I don't believe for a minute God takes sides in our games. I get annoyed greatly when an athlete thanks God for his victory or a team goes on the field before a game and prays for victory. But is there more to asking "in My name" than seen at face value? It seems if we just say In Jesus name and ask anything - and get it - we are trying to put ourselves over God in decision making.

Jesus said the above and I don't question him. But I do question that I have a full understanding of what exactly he meant.