BE PREPARED FOR WHAT YOU ASK FOR

By Jay Pearson

 

One of my favorite prayers to the Lord has been and often is, Help me Lord. Increase my faith to do your will and not my own. Maybe you have prayed that prayer a few times in your life, or a variation of it. The worldly expression that comes to mind is, Be careful what you ask for. It is usually followed by, You just might get it (implying that it could very well be a bad thing). I would like to offer another phrase in which I entitled this sharing, Be prepared for what you ask for.

John 14:13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Tribulation and trials cause us to stretch beyond our comfort zone. If we are praying the Lord for a different result in our life, we must be prepared to do something different in our life. It’s quite simple, the same action equals very similar results, and different actions reap very different results. The Lord told us we would have tribulation in this world. The trials of our faith are precious to the Lord.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 Corinthians 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Without trials, we become like the one who beholds himself in a mirror and goes his own way and forgets that he is the Lord’s purchased possession.

James 1:23-24
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 7:23
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

The written Word of God is a proven source of direction and instruction in righteousness. The Holy Spirit reveals that Word perfectly to us as we read and apply it. Trusting the Lord and not looking to ourselves or others for the answers to our circumstance reap in our faith toward God. God is faithful.

Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When our circumstance is on the mountain top of delight or in the deepest darkest cavern with its claustrophobic nature, we are to trust the Lord and acknowledge him in praise and thanksgiving. This is how to be prepared for increasing our faith. It will be tougher than sitting on the couch in our comfort zone, but more rewarding and lasting both here and in eternity. God is our refuge and our deliverer.

Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 18:18-19
18 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
19 He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

As we prepare to grow in Christ, tribulation and trial are a part of our life. Choices are also a part of our life. We may descend into our own despair or rise in victory in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 77:2-3
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Consequences are the result of choices. Some are from our choices and some are from others.

Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Some circumstances are out of our control. Let us face that, and trust the Lord for his deliverance.  At the same time, some circumstances are of our own making. Choose to have faith in God when we’re up or when we’re down. Take responsibility for our choices and changing those choices when necessary. Bad choices reap bad consequences. Recognize it and choose as the Holy Spirit directs. To continue on with bad choices you are traveling the same road to the same destination. Check your internal GPS, [God’s Personal Savior] for the direction to go.

GOD IS NOT ON VACATION
The Lord’s answer is not a recorded message
It is real-time direction

BE PREPARED FOR WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

TRUST THE LORD ALWAYS

Be prepared for what you ask for by praying in the Spirit, listening with your ears and heart, and be doers of the Word, following his direction. If you don’t know what to ask for, the Lord does.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Choose wisely when confronted with a choice.

Psalm 25:12
What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Abiding in Christ is the best way to be prepared for what you ask for. It’s being prepared by truth and his provision.

John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 8:32
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

BE PREPARED FOR WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

INCREASING YOUR FAITH

Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus was prepared for what he asked for.

Read John 17 and look for yourself as a disciple in that prayer. Next look for you specifically in that prayer.

The Lord keeps his Word always. Be prepared for what you ask for.

 

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Presented February 10, 2019 in Pride, Louisiana