Day 8: Laura Cunliffe
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
When I Don’t Feel Like It...
I am exceedingly and abundantly blessed. I have a Savior who loves me, an amazing husband who adores and serves our family, three incredible children, a beautiful home, wonderful friends and family and a fulfilling career. How could I ever not be thankful? How could I ever not FEEL like boasting in the Lord?
This year has contained many highs; one might describe this as a season of walking on a mountain top, rather than in a valley. Nothing is wrong. Nothing bad or extraordinarily hard has happened. Our children are thriving. Life is busy but rather good. Even so, I have unanswered prayers. Big ones. I have gone to the Lord on my knees contending for an answer, but still no response.
I know that I am not the only one waiting for answers. I would venture to say every person reading this devotion has unanswered prayers. And there is GOOD NEWS to share. God has heard our prayers, He cares, and He will respond. Matthew 7:7-8 says to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”.
Jesus promises in His Word that God answers the prayers of those who earnestly seek Him. These verses emphasize that God is attentive to our prayers and will answer according to His will and timing- all for HIS glory. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)
My husband and I recently started hosting a Grace Chapel small group in our home, which has been a source of encouragement and growth over the past few months. Our group has been studying the power of gratitude and a dear friend recently shared a practical way to implement this biblical mandate - even, and especially, when we don’t feel like it. Each morning, as soon as I open my eyes, before getting out of bed to attend to the needs of the day, I briefly close my eyes to thank the Lord for all my many blessings. Each evening, before turning out the lights and getting into bed, I briefly close my eyes, to thank the Lord for those prayers that have yet to be answered.
In this season, I am learning that being grateful to God, even while waiting for an answer to prayer, is an expression of trust and faith in His timing and wisdom. It acknowledges that God's plans for us are always good, even if we don’t immediately understand why we are waiting for an answer to them. Gratitude in the waiting period allows us to focus on the blessings we already have and to deepen our relationship with God, knowing He is always present, guiding, and working for our ultimate good.
So while I wait on the Lord to fulfill his promises, I will boast in the Lord for the answer that is coming - not because I have willed it, or hoped for it, or wanted it. Instead, I am confident that the answer to my prayers is coming because Jesus says in Mark 11:24 that “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for walking with me in the waiting. Thank you that I can have confidence in approaching Your throne with prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, confession and supplication. Thank you that I can be assured that when I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me. (1 John 5:14-15) Lord, I commit this season of not knowing what’s next, to You. I give You my worries, fears, hopes and dreams and I ask that You use it for Your good and Your glory. In Your precious Holy name. Amen.
When I Don’t Feel Like It...
I am exceedingly and abundantly blessed. I have a Savior who loves me, an amazing husband who adores and serves our family, three incredible children, a beautiful home, wonderful friends and family and a fulfilling career. How could I ever not be thankful? How could I ever not FEEL like boasting in the Lord?
This year has contained many highs; one might describe this as a season of walking on a mountain top, rather than in a valley. Nothing is wrong. Nothing bad or extraordinarily hard has happened. Our children are thriving. Life is busy but rather good. Even so, I have unanswered prayers. Big ones. I have gone to the Lord on my knees contending for an answer, but still no response.
I know that I am not the only one waiting for answers. I would venture to say every person reading this devotion has unanswered prayers. And there is GOOD NEWS to share. God has heard our prayers, He cares, and He will respond. Matthew 7:7-8 says to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”.
Jesus promises in His Word that God answers the prayers of those who earnestly seek Him. These verses emphasize that God is attentive to our prayers and will answer according to His will and timing- all for HIS glory. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)
My husband and I recently started hosting a Grace Chapel small group in our home, which has been a source of encouragement and growth over the past few months. Our group has been studying the power of gratitude and a dear friend recently shared a practical way to implement this biblical mandate - even, and especially, when we don’t feel like it. Each morning, as soon as I open my eyes, before getting out of bed to attend to the needs of the day, I briefly close my eyes to thank the Lord for all my many blessings. Each evening, before turning out the lights and getting into bed, I briefly close my eyes, to thank the Lord for those prayers that have yet to be answered.
In this season, I am learning that being grateful to God, even while waiting for an answer to prayer, is an expression of trust and faith in His timing and wisdom. It acknowledges that God's plans for us are always good, even if we don’t immediately understand why we are waiting for an answer to them. Gratitude in the waiting period allows us to focus on the blessings we already have and to deepen our relationship with God, knowing He is always present, guiding, and working for our ultimate good.
So while I wait on the Lord to fulfill his promises, I will boast in the Lord for the answer that is coming - not because I have willed it, or hoped for it, or wanted it. Instead, I am confident that the answer to my prayers is coming because Jesus says in Mark 11:24 that “whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for walking with me in the waiting. Thank you that I can have confidence in approaching Your throne with prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, confession and supplication. Thank you that I can be assured that when I ask anything according to Your will, You hear me. (1 John 5:14-15) Lord, I commit this season of not knowing what’s next, to You. I give You my worries, fears, hopes and dreams and I ask that You use it for Your good and Your glory. In Your precious Holy name. Amen.
Posted in Boast in the Lord \\\'25
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