The readings of today present insights into answered prayers. First, we see from Esther’s prayer that a powerful secret of an answered prayer is to not have God as one of many alternatives. Esther prayed: “Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O LORD, my God.”
The second spiritual principle is hidden under the golden rule Jesus gives us today.
We prayed with the Psalmist today: “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me” (Psalm 138:3a). Permit me to ask: Is this your experience? Could you list answered prayers you’ve received from the Lord? It would be great if it were as simple as it sounds. Jesus commands us to “ask, seek, and knock” (Matt 7:7). And goes further to say, “everyone who asks receives…”! Why does it seem like some people don’t receive what they asked? People say, “I prayed for healing, and it didn’t happen. Rather the person died.” “I have been praying for a good job but have not been able to find any.” I have been asking God to change my husband/wife, but he/she hasn’t.” “I have been praying for my kids’ conversion, but they seem further away from God and the Church.”
The Golden Rule Implications
Yet, we prayed with the Psalmist today, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” Why did Jesus say, “everyone who asks receives”? To answer the question, we have to look at the entire teaching. In verse 12 of the same passage, the Lord said, “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.” We can glean some powerful insights from this teaching:
Jesus did not say whatever you wish that men do to you; ask God to do it for them. Instead, He says, you do it for them. By implication, what we give is what we get. God helps us through us. Divine interventions come through human beings. So when the Lord taps on your shoulder and says, “Hey, I need you to give this or that person a call”; “Could you help out with going out to share the good news with people?”; “Someone needs accompaniment through the spiritual journey she/he just started”; “A group of young adults might need some assistance two nights a week”; “How about organizing praise and worship evenings a couple of nights a week”; “Oh Steve, Maria, a small group of people at your church has formed an outreach program, can you join them?” The list, as we know, is endless. But you get the point. Every problem solved and every prayer answered came through a human being.
Thus, I’m confident enough to say this. The prayer that receives an answer from God is that you are willing to answer.
