Knowing God - Exodus 33:17

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And the LORD said to Moses,

"I will do the very thing you have asked,

because I am pleased with you

and I know you by name."

Exodus 33:17

 

In a verse like this, the temptation is to turn it around -- if we're not getting what we ask for, is God displeased with us?

 

Have you ever done that?

 

Please rest assured that this converse is not true. There's a million reasons why prayer is sometimes not answered. Nevertheless, here's a good indication for why and when extraordinary prayer is answered: Look at what Moses and God are doing.

 

What are Moses and God doing? They're talking together. Personally. Deeply. Wonderfully. There is a remarkable relationship.

 

Now, we could be tempted to say that the relationship that Moses has with God is a once-in-a-millenium-type-of-relationship ... and you'd certainly be right. But God is more generous with himself than most of us take advantage of. God wants a deeper relationship with you. That will give him great pleasure. And you'll find more answers to prayer.

 

Your answers to prayer won't be because God is a genie in a bottle who is just waiting to grant his buddy's wishes. Nor will the answers you receive be a sign that God likes you more than the next guy. Rather, it will be because you've learned more about your heavenly friend. And suddenly you're asking -- based not on what you want to accomplish -- but on what God wants to accomplish already.

 

That's alignment. When you want what God wants, it's amazing how many more prayers will get answered.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who needs a chiropractor

(get it ... better alignment)