Answered

Do I feel prayer is answered based on how life intersects with me?  If I pray for a car and a car is received do I automatically think that's the answer?  A month later the car breaks down.  If the answer was the car, why would God allow it to break down?  Is the car only a part of the answer?  Maybe the car was to build trust for the next life occurrence, the breakdown. God brought me through the receiving of the car, why would he not carry me through the breakdown?  Maybe the answer was not the car, maybe the answer was faith building.  Its much easier to pray for a desire than for faith building.  My character is too fragile to anticipate faith building, which is most always difficult, than to look forward to something which makes my life easier, a car.

 Am I willing to change my prayer habits to include Christ's desires instead of my longings? Am I willing to do anything for the sake of God's glory? This doesn't mean I ought not pray for a car, but am I willing to walk if God so wills it?  My pious self says, "Of course", but will I chortle in disgust if my way is not granted?  Should I not be willing to do anything or give up everything for the cause of Christ? 

If I could only meet God for coffee each time I had a need or question it would be so much easier.  He could look at me and say,

                           "You want what?  That's a little selfish don't you think?"
                    Or
                           "If you did it this way, things would work out much better."

But God decided we should live by faith.  He wants us to realize that life will deal us crap but he will take the crap we are dealt and fertilize our life into something pleasing and good if we stick by Him.

Yet, my piece of pie falls in my lap, my boss irks me, my car breaks down and I get annoyed.  Why the dilemma, the mockery, the scandal in my soul when, in reality, the pie,the job and the car are all blessings of which I should be thankful. 

Is the implication of rebellion the course of a heart gone cold?  Is this heart salvageable?  Is it yet pliable enough to be kind and not spiteful, generous and not selfish...at rest in the arms of Jesus?

                              My God will supply all my needs.....do I believe it?

                              My God will always be there....do I feel it?

                              My God will not forsake me....do I know it? 

Prayer predicates itself on a God who will answer or it is not prayer at all, it is a gambling percentage based on bad probability.  God is there, he will answer. Though, I must expect only His answer, not my answer.