God answered my prayers

Dorcas the Seamstress, a disciple of Jesus,
whose story you can find in Acts 9:36-42.

Have you had a personal prayer answered recently? I sure did, and I am so glad I lifted my dilemma up to Him.

After all, Jesus did, on many occasions go to God in prayer. He also instructed us to do the same. Go to God in prayer and ask in the same of the Son. In the Gospel of John 14:14 (NIV) {Jesus said} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Fair enough, I think. Agreed?

My issue came about as a result of attending a woman’s one-day retreat a few weeks ago. While praising Jesus with 25 other Christian women, we all learned about answered prayer and continuing service to God from participants who shared their stories at the event.

We also received pamphlets advertising the “It’s Tough Being a Woman Retreat – Dorcas the Seamstress.” This non-denominational retreat for women is set for Feb 27 and 28 in Escanaba. I read the literature and decided, “I really want to go to this.” When I got home, I talked the trip over with my husband, who encouraged me to attend.

However, there was an issue that had to be resolved before I could go.

Again, I called upon my Bible, reading another verse about God answering prayer. I delved further into John’s gospel, but this time I found a later verse, where Jesus tells us, yet again, to ask in His name. John 16:24 (NIV) reads, {Jesus said} Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

You ask, what could be the problem and why did you need prayer to attend the retreat? After all, you want to go and your husband is on board, what was the obstacle?

Well, to be honest, I had no clue who I could room with. Although I attend the women’s non-denominational Bible studies throughout the year, I really do not have a personal relationship with the women there. My best friend lives 2,000 miles away, and no one at my church planned to go to the two-day event. Consequently, I had no one to share a room with.

So, I prayed.

Lo and behold, I ran into our Bible study leader while grocery shopping this afternoon. She asked if I planned to attend the retreat. I explained that although I would love to, I did not have a roommate. To my delight, she said, “Neither do I!”

Problem solved.

More importantly, prayers answered.

After I got home, I immediately turned to my Bible and read perhaps the most famous of Jesus’s admonitions where prayer is concerned. I am sure you know the one of which I speak. It’s Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV), the Ask, Seek, Knock passage where Jesus said, 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 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! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Ask in His name, always. The answer may not come immediately. The answer may take days, weeks, months or even years. But if your request coincides with His will, He will answer you.

Step into a meaningful relationship with Jesus today through prayer. Confess your sins. Ask for forgiveness. Live life as a true follower of Jesus Christ.

And don’t forget to pray to Him daily. After all, it's what he prescribes.

May God bless each of you every day in every way. Amen