Let's Get Specific

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

I have come across something recently that I want to share with you. I feel like it’s this little secret that I have; but it shouldn’t really be a secret at all. And, maybe it is not a secret. There is very real possibility that the “secret” I am going to share with you is something you know, and have known about, for years. But, it’s something I have just noticed recently and I am so excited by it.

So, what is this “secret” you ask? Well, if you start praying SPECIFIC prayers, great things start to happen. That’s it. That is my secret.

In my Christian life, I have always had this tendency to pray generic prayers. For example: “Dear Lord, please heal John Doe.”, “Dear Lord, please keep my family safe.”, and “Dear Lord, please help me find a good job.” (You know, everyday ordinary kind of stuff.)

Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about these types of prayers. (And, if you pray this way, please don’t take it as criticism.) Spending time with God, especially in prayer, is one of the best ways to spend your time. And, I encourage you to pray often. The Bible even tells us to pray without ceasing. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:17) I still pray this way a lot of times.

However, once you get more specific and do some work on the backend, something magical happens. You start to see God work in your life. I have no idea how or why this happens. But, believe me, it does! How do I know? Because I have seen it happen in my own life.

So, what is this “backend” that I mention above? I must be totally honest with you; it’s a caveat. To start seeing your prayers being answered, you must put in your fair share of the work. Your relationship with God is just that: a relationship. We all know that relationships take work, and your relationship with God is no exception. But, once you come to know God and trust in Him, this will be THE most important relationship of your life. (And, the more time you spend with Him, the more you WANT to spend with Him, and this, in-turn, makes it a relationship that gets easier and easier as time goes by. At least, this has been the case for me.)

The caveat is that you need to believe in God and trust Him. (Knowing God loves us, loving Him, spending time with Him, and being grateful for what He's done and is doing in our lives can help us have a real relationship with Him. – Joyce Meyers)

This caveat sounds simple enough, right? Well, not always. It truly depends on where you are in your spiritual journey. I feel like it has taken me quite a while to get here. Maybe you are not there yet. Maybe you have been here for years. Maybe you are somewhere in the middle. We are all different and unique in how we learn and grow.

But, once you start to figure out how this all works, that is when the magic happens. You believe and trust in God, you form a true relationship Him, you spend time with Him each day, you read your Bible, you pray specific prayers, and you start to see your prayers being answered. It really can be that simple, if you let it.

I think I have shared this quote before, but it is so uplifting, true, and appropriate, I must share it again.

One of the ways we can learn to completely trust that God is a good God is to praise Him for His goodness. Every time we do, it opens up the channels through which that particular aspect of His nature is poured into our heart.

The more you praise God for His goodness, the more you will see it manifested in your life. That’s the hidden power of praise. You will be amazed when you pray this way how God will open your eyes to see things you haven’t seen before.  ~ Stormie Omartian
​
Now that this little “secret” is out, I hope and pray that you put it to good use in your own life. It is so amazing to witness God working in your own life.