“Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
We have been married more than fourteen years, and every time I say to my husband, “When you have a minute can you do so and so.” His response remains the same, quick releases of a puff of air and jumps to do what I have asked. Again, I say to him, “You needn’t jump up immediately.” His same apologetic response “My previous wife demanded the chore to be done now.” My continual reassurance of my personality falls on deaf ears, this is a pattern that replays over and over in our marriage.
How does God hear my prayers? Does He hear them as demanding? God’s character is loving and kind, but He does not promise He will jump to our ever request. Trusting God to answer our prayers require knowing his personality and promises-we can’t let the scars of the past control us.
The goal of communication with our spouse and with God isn’t about getting what we want. Instead, it is about developing relationships. Healthy marriages need to have good communication and the same applies if we want a healthy relationship with our Savior. Both of these take work. Therefore, before we can communicate with another we must be aware of their character and personality.
Ask yourself before going to your spouse- is it something he is capable of doing? This is true when presenting your request to God- base your request on God’s character, He will not answer prayers which go against His principles. Spending time with your spouse is deepens the relationship. The same is true with God, we must read His Word and learn His promises. His words give us life and sets of free.”This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him” 1John 5:14