There is an old saying that says be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. God does answer prayers.

1 Johns 5:14 -15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

God says approach him with CONFIDENCE and ask WHATEVER, ANYTHING you want from him. He even says he will hear us. The CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE hears little old me!!!

The Key part is: <span>ACCORDING TO HIS WILL</span>!

I believe God is quicker to answer those prayers if they are with HIS will for our lives.

Those prayers of the fruit: Galatians 5:22-23 such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:25 says since we live BY the spirit we have to be IN step with the spirit. Not ahead or behind it but IN step with it.

How do we get in step with the spirit?

2 Corinthians 17 says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the OLD has gone, the NEW has come!

We must rid ourselves of the things opposite of the fruits of the Spirit.

So, I started praying for God to change things within my character to become more like Christ.

James 1:23-25

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

To see me in my sinful nature is an image of pride, impulsiveness, deceit, a gossip, a coward to name a few. I remember praying about these things because v 25 says we have freedom by changing this nature to that of Jesus. That is where the blessing lies.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

I remember praying for more patience. This is where the trial started. God used my accident to teach me patience. I had to lie in bed for over a month and wait for someone to come to my aid instead of being able to do things for myself. I began to study out Job and how even through his trials he remained faithful to God.

I just recently asked for God to make me more humble and meek. Well, my car broke down. This forced me ask several people for rides and assistance. This really pushes at the pride thorn in my side but to be more like Christ I have to humble myself in God’s sight.

Mark 14: 34-36

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “EVERYTHING is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Jesus completely yielded EVERYTHING over to God! Now if the SON of Man can do so what makes us any better! Jesus says according to God’s will. Jesus trusted God to take care of him no matter what the task was before him.

Jesus knew that through this momentary pain that God had the BIG picture in mind. Jesus trusted that God would Shape his future.

How are we with God shaping us?

How do we react to trials that come only to refine our character?

1 Peter 1:6-7

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Remember trials only last a little while. It may seem like forever but it is momentary. Through your trials God will ultimately get the glory.

Hebrews 12:4 says that when we are struggling and going through trials it is nothing compared to how Christ endured through OUR sin and trials to the point of death. We don’t even scrape the surface of that when we struggle.

He endured all the pain, mental anguish and gruesome feeling of having been separated from the Father, so that we might inherit the kingdom!

Hebrews 12:7-11 NLT

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

This passage tells us no discipline is pleasant at the time, but God loves us SO very much that he chooses to shape us with trials.

Why? To produce a harvest of righteousness and peace. We can’t be righteous when we are prideful. We can’t be at peace when we aren’t patient.

I love how v 9 puts it. For us to “submit” to the “Father of our spirits” and live!!

See, God wants us to be with him so if he has to tap us or even knock us down for us to learn and become more like him he will do just that.

A wise person said to me we trust God when everything is going great but soon as we hit a bump in the road of life we don’t trust him anymore. OUCH!

Proverbs 16:1 NLT says we can make our own plans but the Lord gives the right answer. Then further down in v 3 it says commit your actions to the Lord and your plans will succeed.

This is interesting!  If we make our plans centered on God then He will be likely to make them prosper. This goes back to my earlier statement (the prayers to change my character to that of Jesus).

The question to ask ourselves is how are we with committing to his will?

 The Psalmist says weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning!

Remain Joyful!!