Seeing Prayers Answered in Turbulent Times

It's sad to say, but far too many Christians live burdened down by the negative influence of the world. They accept failure too readily, because they have allowed their faith to become weak and their spirits to grow faint from the negativity around them.

Of course, it would be foolish to deny that we live in a negative world. We live in a world full of trouble. Real problems exist everywhere. So what is a Christian supposed to do?

We must never underestimate the importance of prayer in enabling us to maintain a level of peace when we are surrounded by negativity.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 (NIV 1984)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

In this passage, Paul tells us to present our problems to God instead of worrying about them—then God's peace will come into our hearts and minds.

We must resist the temptation to worry. Why? Because God told us not to be anxious about anything.

We were not designed to carry anxiety and burdens. Yet if we're not careful, we can allow our minds to become disappointed, discouraged, and depressed. We can allow worry to enter in instead of what God has said.

Worry is designed to distract you from the Word of God. The devil tries to get us to spend our time worrying about things—and often about things that haven't happened, and that probably never will happen. If he is successful, we will become more and more negative, and our faith and prayer life will be ineffective.

God wants to answer our prayers! He wants us to bring our concerns to Him—to cast our anxieties on Him. First Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety [worry, care] on him because he cares for you" (NIV 1984).

In Mark 11:24, Jesus Himself said, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (NIV).

Consider what Jesus said about prayer in the following verses:

JOHN 14:13-14
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

JOHN 15:7-8
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.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.

The fruit Jesus spoke about in verse 8 is answered prayer. God gets the glory when we receive answers to prayer! And answered prayer is one of God's greatest blessings to enable us to remain in peace and maintain a positive attitude.

Remember, Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (NIV 1984). When we pray, we are to give God our petitions and also our burdens. In exchange, God gives us His peace that passes our human understanding and the promise that He will take care of us and answer our prayers. He relieves us of the anxiety, worry, and care associated with our problem. He does that so we can stay positive and thank Him for the answer, while we are expecting it to come to pass!

Praying in faith will bring you into victory on the other side of every test or trial. On the other side of every sickness, disease, financial problem, or whatever you're facing—victory awaits you!