Break This Ground

 "God is a prayer answering God."  Pastor Jim Cymbala

"God always answers the prayers of His children."  Dr. Charles Stanley

Tim came into my office one day.  I already knew he was under a lot of stress.  He was building a new home for his family.  And it required a lot of time and labor.  As he sat and talked with me, I learned about how he was struggling in his effort to have a working well on his property.  Problems kept arising, and it seemed that having water was going to be a major difficulty.  So we bowed our heads together and prayed.  I'll never forget Tim prayed with his voice breaking and tears running down his face, "God, please break that ground.  Please make my well work so we can have water on our property!"  He prayed with specificity and passion.  I could tell it was a heart-felt, desperate plea that he was voicing to his Lord.

Fortunately, Tim's prayer was eventually answered.  God broke the ground.  Water became available.  And the well worked perfectly fine.  It was a happy day when Tim and his family moved into their beautiful new home.

Tim had a need, so he prayed about it.  He poured out his heart to God.  And God responded.

What is your greatest need right now?  Most likely it's not for ground to be broken.  It could be something totally different.  Perhaps you need healing in an important relationship.  Possibly you need a different job.  Maybe you need a better income to meet your financial obligations.  Whatever the case may be, try this:  Go to God in prayer and ask Him for help.  Just do it.  Pray about it!

Keep this scripture in mind:  Matthew 7:7 - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  What a comforting truth!  God does answer prayers.

Yes, our prayers must be prayed within the confines of His will.  No, God is not telling us prayer is a means to manipulate Him like a Heavenly vending machine.  The Bible does not say that every item on our "wish list" will be granted to us just because we prayed about it.  After all, there is a difference between a need and a want.  But the Bible does clearly teach that God hears our prayers, and He does respond accordingly.  And the Bible does clearly teach us that amazing things can happen when God's children pray to Him.

God can do anything.  And God knows everything.  Quite simply, God is amazing and worthy of our trust.  So do what my friend Tim did.  Talk to God through prayer about what is happening in your life.  When you do, be ready to see God at work in you, through you, and around you.