Sojourn Prayer, by Ben Gantt

Reflections on How God Answers Our Prayers For Commitment

Do we all expect God to answer our prayers for commitment and empowerment with thunderous blasts from heaven or is it just me?  I am prone to think that unless God shows up with a spectacular display like the one found in 1 Kings 18 then I missed something.  I often forget the next chapter where God shows up in a way so silent that Elijah barely notices.

I was reflecting on God’s answering my prayers for commitment while fighting a sinus infection during Days 5 and 6 of the 40 Days Of Prayer.  While taking time to rest my eyes-time that I would usually spend being busy with something or other-I was able to meditate on the Bible verses from those two days.  Philippians 4:6-7 and Isaiah 53:6 are well-known verses, and my meditation on them didn’t yield any profound insights.  However, it was important time spent thinking about God’s Word when the Holy Spirit can just gently pack truth into my heart, and cause me to trust God more deeply.

I believe that was one way God answered our prayers for one another this week.  He is making us more like Jesus as we pray for each other.  The increased commitment doesn’t have to mean anything spectacular.  It could mean spending five or ten minutes praying for other Sojourners this week, when you haven’t prayed any in the last month.  It could mean one simple gospel conversation that points a believer or unbeliever to Jesus.

It is not of great importance that you heed my encouragement to reflect on the ways God may be increasing your commitment to Him this week.  But do reflect on truth from Philippians 1:6:

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.