Counting the Answers

Do you count sheep to go to sleep? I pray and I fall asleep. It is a blessing and a curse because in the morning, while well rested, I remember my prayer list was only half prayed for. It makes me feel guilty that I didn’t get the last half prayed for. In spite of this, God is answering those half-prayed prayers and here is how I know he is.

I am seeing God’s answers to those prayers! We may fall asleep, but God does not! God has a wonderful work ethic because he still answers those prayers that were intended. God is good. Even when we don’t need to count sheep to fall asleep, He helps us count His answers to our prayers.

God answers many prayers with, “yes,” because he has a path for everyone. He wants all His children in heaven. He wants us to be healthy, to trust and obey him, and He wants us to share Him with the world so that others can go to heaven too. I try to keep this in mind when I’m praying for others. God wants what they want; and more than anything God wants a friendship with people. 

These prayers that He always answers with “yes” are when we pray for salvation. He always says “yes” when we ask for wisdom. He always says "yes" when we ask for His direction. Can you imagine a loving God saying, “no, I’ll let them stay stupid today.” Or “no, I want them to get lost today.”

God always answers. Yet there are times when we wish we could know the answers to those prayers we prayed for healing for a friend. We wish we knew if God solved that mountain of a problem. We want to know that God changed someone’s mind. Praising God for BIG answers is in our DNA. We look forward to God answering BIG prayers.

I’m going to count some answers to prayer. Our prayer team has a list we pray for on a regular basis. Some on our team have long lists of people and situations they pray for. Our UCC staff also prays together weekly. Here are 10 wonderful answers.

1.      An elderly dad had a calm weekend with God’s presence when he was prayed for. He had been angry at his caregiver, but God calmed the storm.

2.      A person with a fatal illness was healed completely!

3.      A couple who needed a new direction in their life decided to be baptized. This was an answer to many people’s prayers.

4.      A teacher had surgery and while some would be fearing the worst, God has given her complete peace about the situation. And she found just a few days ago she is cancer free.

5.      People were praying for a brother and sister to come to a relationship with Jesus and now they have both been baptized.

6.      A family was having a conflict and asked for prayer. Now it has been resolved.

7.      A life was spared because of prayers.

8.      An organization that was having disfunction is , through many prayers, turning around.

9.      A large group of children, not attending church, were invited to a UCC Church. Expecting maybe 10 would show up, over 40 showed up. God is at work there.

10.  A baby was in the hospital with multiple problems. After much prayer, the baby is going home and doing much better.

Don’t you love it when God allows us to see answers to our prayers? It is encouraging, emotional and the highlight of my day when I hear how God is working in the lives of those I’m praying for. Counting God’s answers continues as we count on God!

Do you want to share some answers? Email us at prayer@uccsda.org.