Preparing Your Welcome
Living in the confidence of an anticipated answer to prayer
“Wisdom has built her house
She has hewn out its seven pillars
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine
She has also set her table.”
Proverbs 9:1-2 NIV
Have you set the table of your life for what you are asking for?
To action this and put steps to your faith you really need to have a faith filled confidence that God indeed answers prayer.
We need to back up a little and go to the asking. God wants us to ask Him
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”Matthew 7:7-8 NIV
and he wants to answer us
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:9-11 NIV
However, God is who He is and will not answer prayers outside His will for your life because He loves you.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 NIV
So having read this, other bible verses such as …
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 NIV
“ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 NIV
…need to be heard in the context of this:
If it is God’s will for you It is not a matter of if - but when.
So, your priority is to seek GOD. By that I mean spending time with Him, talking, listening, ‘hanging out’ , reading the bible. Just like you would with anyone else you are wanting to build a friendship or relationship with. Taking the time to seek God will build a relationship with Him. Creating a space where you can get to know Him and His will for your life.
This time spent discovering, will lead you into the rhythm of praying His will. You will start to discern His will through reading the bible and the new desires and requests that come up in your heart. Your conversations with God will start to change and you will begin to see a new path being raised up in your life that sets the scene. Like laying a ‘ table cloth’ of His will over your life. It is a covering, direction, protection and it sets the table of your life for the coming feast of answered prayer.
