“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
“Call to Me …” God says in Scripture, yet so many of us are slow to respond to that invitation. Why do we pray so meagerly? I believe it’s because unbelief whispers in our ears, “Your prayers won’t work. God won’t hear them. Others may come and receive all sorts of bounty from God, but not the likes of you, not the one who has so often broken His commandments. God doesn’t even want to hear from your lips.” Do thoughts of unworthiness creep into your mind, building a wall between you and God? Yet against these whispers of Satan, God’s Word speaks to us, “Call to Me …” God reaches out to us, inviting us to reach out to Him.
“I Will Answer You.” Yet doubts still discourage us from praying. Inside our heads we hear, “Prayer will do no good because God will not answer. I’ve tried before, and I haven’t received answers.” Have you ever felt that way? Then read the second part of Jeremiah 33:3, an assurance that stills such doubts of “I will answer you.” God has promised to respond to our prayers.
“I Will Answer You.” When we call on God, we can feel confident that He has made us worthy of approaching Him and that He has promised to answer us. We should also keep in mind all the other principles that the Bible teaches concerning prayer. For example, to maintain an open prayer line to God we must confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, while forgiving those who have sinned against us. Another principle is that we must call upon God in faith, believing He will do that which we ask of Him. The Scripture says that whatsoever you shall ask, believe that God will give it, and you shall have it. We should also call upon God with great perseverance and ask according to His will. Finally, we should pray with gratitude, thanking God for all He has already done.
“I Will Answer You.” How’s your prayer life these days? Are any of the concerns I mentioned earlier stopping you from fully enjoying your connection to God? I invite you to call to God and remember His promise to answer you. Do these things, and wait for God to show you “great and mighty things”!
“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Alfred Lord Tennyson
Prayer
Lord, my sin and unbelief cause me to doubt that You hear and answer prayer. Help me to banish my doubt, forgive me of my sin, and let my love for You shine through my life. I thank You for Your many blessings! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
