“I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.” Unknown

While we may think God has not answered our prayers, He does so in very mysterious ways. God doesn’t answer prayers that will feed our greed, pride or self-esteem. God’s will is about glorifying God.

As any parent can tell you, they have often had to tell their children, “I’m doing this for your own good.” Parents want the best for their children, and that often means making hard decisions that may upset our children, but we know that in the long run it will teach them a lesson that will last forever. So if we have to punish our children, or make a decision that makes them mad at us, we know that we are truly working for their own good…as does God.

God isn’t a magician, and He won’t answer our prayers with fame and fortune just because we ask for it. He will provide for our needs when the need arrives, and try not to overlook the answer, because it’s very rarely in the form you would expect it. That’s the mystery of an answered prayer.

Image by sxc.hu user geri-jean

“With God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

A woman commuting to work to Chicago from Wisconsin began to experience car trouble smack dab in the middle of the express lanes during the morning rush hour. Her car would stop running and she’d pull off to the side of the road and pray, “Dear God, please let my car start again!” She sat quietly as the traffic whizzed by her idle car. She turned the key, and it began. She pulled back onto the freeway and within minutes found herself in the same exact situation. This happened a number of times, until eventually the car refused to start again.

As she sat in the middle of speeding cars trying to avoid her, a city tow truck came and rescued her, towing her car to an off-site accident report area. The city tow truck could take her no further, and she found herself abandoned. Lo and behold, a tow truck driver was conveniently lingering around, waiting for the kill. He offered to take her anywhere she needed to go. She contemplated taking the car back to Wisconsin, or to a repair shop. A nearby repair shop seemed most logical and economical.

For a mere three mile drive, the driver charged her $214. Ironically, she had the exact amount in her purse from her tips the previous day at work, which she usually always counted and put away after a long day of work on the boats. But that left her with nothing. No money to pay the mechanic, and no money to get the car home.

The mechanic came back and informed her that they could only temporarily fix the car, and it would probably get her back to Wisconsin. Since he saw that the tow truck driver took all her money, he didn’t charge her for the repair.

Her husband and eldest son drove down and picked her up at the repair shop. By this time it had began to rain, and I don’t mean just rain, I mean downpour summer storm! Only ten miles away from the shop, the car broke down again. They were able to get it started again, but only long enough to get it off the freeway and into a gas station parking lot. They had no choice but to leave it there. Her son went into the station and told the attendant the situation, in which he approved, and they left the car behind and headed back home.

In the meantime, her mother had called a local tow truck company that was willing to drive all the way to Chicago and back for only $85, which her mother paid. The woman was so steamed and angry. She began to raise her fist at God, feeling betrayed and ignored. She sobbed all the way home.

Later in the afternoon, after the tow truck had delivered her car, there was a knock on their front door. It was her mother-in-law, who she hadn’t talked to in several weeks due to a fallout between them, standing in the rainstorm with an envelope in her hand. She came in from the rain and began to tell her daughter-in-law: “I hope you won’t be offended by what I’m about to do, but I was just sitting at home and I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit tell me that I had to go to the bank and give you this money. I questioned it and wondered if I had enough to give you. I hope that it’s enough for whatever you need, because it was all I had in my account. I don’t know if you really need it, but I felt God told me that not only did I have to give it to you, but I had to bring it to you NOW! ” Because it was at the very moment when the woman was on the verge of calling it quits with God. While it wasn’t just the car, it was everything that had happened leading up to the car breaking down. Life. Life in general breaking down. And she no longer felt God was listening or that He cared.

When the woman opened the envelope, there was $214. The exact amount the tow truck driver had charged her. I’d like to say that it was at that moment when she bowed down and humbled herself, realizing God was indeed answering her prayers, but it took several days for her to finally put all the pieces together: the city tow truck driver, her tip money in her purse, the free repair, her family coming to help her, her mother paying for the next tow truck, the gas station attendant allowing her to keep the car there, the money her mother-in-law had given her, and a few weeks later her insurance company reimbursed her for the $85 her mother paid for the other tow truck.

God did answer her prayers. It just wasn’t how she wanted them answered. She soon realized that cars break down, children get colic, and mothers get cancer. And ironically, while she was in a spiritual and literal storm, God was in her midst. God was taking care of her. And while days afterwards she had packed away all her Bibles and Christian CDs in distress, the experience was one that eventually strengthened her faith and her belief that God does answer prayers, but very rarely in the ways we want them answered.

Our prayers are usually answered in forms like these, so that God can show off His immense glory and love. So that stories will be told that miracles still happen. Had God fixed the car, no one would have believed it was merely God. But the exact amount of money in her purse and an envelope, and her mother-in-law’s testimony of being led by the Spirit, shows much more power and concern! Oh, how He loves us…

Image by sxc.hu user nighthawk7

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 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. (1 John 5: 13-15)

As children of the Most High God, we know not only that God wants the best for us, but that he has the power to give us anything that we ask for that is in his will for our lives. If we accept this as a biblical truth, then it stands to reason also that when we pray to God for that which we desire, we should first seek to discover God’s will for us within the context of our desires, and once we submit, truly submit, our desires to the will of God, then those things that you pray for will conform to what God has wants for you and not what you want for yourself.

Remember, God’s “thoughts are not our thoughts,” and while you may not understand how or why your present circumstances are a part of God’s ultimate plan for your life, remind yourself that God only wants the best for you. His plans are to “prosper you and not to harm you.” He plans to “give you hope and a future.”

So when you pray to the Father, pray and ask for anything according to God’s great will and perfect plan for your life.

Image by sxc.hu user sgomez84

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? (Luke 18:7)

One thing over the years in my Christian life that has struck me to the core is the saying that God is not fair, but He is just. This may be a very difficult concept for many people to grasp, but let’s get this straight, fairness takes on many facets that may seem fair to one, but is entirely unfair to someone else.

I once knew an older woman with epilepsy and she loved to watch the show, “Extreme Makeover,” where Ty and the gang would bless someone with a new home. The lucky winner of that new home had usually done something quite spectacular within the community to earn this grand and extravagant gift. This woman would watch it every week and say, “It’s not fair! Why doesn’t someone build me a new house?” Her daughter-in-law would ask in response, “What have you done in the community to earn you such a home?” And the mother-in-law would reply, “Nothing. But I have epilepsy and I should have a home like that, too.”

Our society is one in which everyone feels someone owes them something based on their idea of fairness. “It’s not fair! I don’t make a lot of money, so someone should give me money. I don’t have a nice home, so someone should give me a new home.” If God based His blessings on fairness, none of us would have anything, because quite honestly we don’t deserve them.

The great news is that God isn’t fair. He is just! He is faithful in His justice and His mercy. It can be found at the foot of the cross. Our justice comes with salvation. Without it, life is truly fair and we get what we deserve. So cry out to God, day and night and seek His justice, not His fairness.

Image by sxc.hu user darktaco

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

The greatest gift we could ever ask of God is wisdom. Consider King Solomon. He could have had anything he wanted. God told him, “Just ask and it’s yours. Anything!” (2 Chronicles 1:7) Consider what you would ask for right now if God said that to you. Would you ask for riches, fame, revenge even? King Solomon simply wanted wisdom, but not any kind of wisdom, Godly wisdom.

God honored King Solomon’s wish that incidentally came with numerous perks: riches, fame and even protection against his enemies. See, God gives generously. He doesn’t skimp when it comes to answering our prayers. He doesn’t just answer…He blesses! But instead of asking for what we “want,” we need to seek wisdom first. By doing so, we will learn to live God’s will and not our own. Our wants will change and our heart’s desires will meld with God’s, and then it will be given to us.

Image by sxc.hu user krilm

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24 ESV)

“In Jesus’ name, we pray…” This is why we say this at the end of our prayers. We ask in Jesus’ name, as He instructs us to do. And much like taking a shortcut to work, we oftentimes take a shortcut in our prayers. But Jesus is the One who goes to bat for us. He is the One who stands before God and pleads our case and presents our prayers. Because His (our) Father loves Jesus so much, He is willing to listen to Jesus and grant Him His requests according to the Father’s will.

Don’t overlook Jesus when you are asking God to meet your needs or answer your prayers. Jesus tells us that He is the way to the Father…the ONLY way.

Image by sxc.hu user

You are beaten to earth? Well, Well, What’s that? Come up with a smiling face, it’s nothing against you to fall down flat. But to lie there—that’s a disgrace.” Edmund Vance Cooke

Oh, if only we would fully grasp this. To smile when we fall instead of just lying there, beating ourselves up in total defeat. Did Jesus not say, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” (John 16:33 AMP).

Jesus overcame the world! So be of good cheer even when the world gets you down or you fall flat on your face. It’s nothing against you to fall, in fact, it could eventually become your strength!

Image by sxc.hu user pnijhuis

The following article is a guest post by Tristine Fleming. She is a freelance writer and semi-frazzled stay at home mommy. She attended Columbia College of Chicago as a Fiction Writing major, and resides in Kenosha, Wisconsin with her husband, Jared, and their toddling little guy, Tavin. Her blog, NOTE TO SELF: Daily Reminders from God, has blessed and encouraged men and women across the globe, and is linked to international charity organization, Gospel for Asia.

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. (Matthew 5:29)

I was bullied as a young girl; in a Catholic school, nonetheless. I was tormented for seven years. Pushed and shoved. Called names. Ousted at birthday parties (I don’t think I was EVER invited to one!). Called second-to-last in gym (someone else was much worse than I was, apparently).

My home life wasn’t much better. I was rejected by both of my parents. My father left us to start a new family, and my mother became obsessed with finding someone else to replace him. I fought all of my life to get them to “like” me, but even to this day, there’s nothing I can say or do that will change their minds about me.

While to me this seems like an inclusive pity party, I know I’m not alone. I know that many who are reading this come from divided families and/or have been bullied growing up. We were “different.” There was something about us that just didn’t “fit” in the world.

For a long time I hated being the misfit. And then I tried to fit in and eventually found my place in the wrong crowd: the other misfits.

My three year old son is a misfit in this mad world, too. He is genuinely polite and loving. While we recently had a mini-vacation at a nearby water park, he got his first taste of being bullied. As other kids pushed and shoved their way to the front of the line for the water slides, my lovely, thoughtful child said, “Excuse me,” “Thank you,” and “Please.” He smiled at strangers and said hello to many people. He got excited to see all the kids laughing and running around, but before the day was over, he had been pushed and shoved too many times and he was exhausted from being bullied. He no longer cared about the water slides and eventually just stood and watched the other kids have fun.

This was a hard lesson for my husband and I to watch him learn, because for us, we wanted to spank every nasty child in the joint, and you can be rest assured that we did our fair share of scolding unmonitored brats, but Tavin had to take it on the chin. He had to experience rejection at its finest. He doesn’t fit in. He’s good and pure hearted. He sincerely cares about other people’s feelings. He offers to help, and he loves to share. Instead of making a fuss about being pushed out of the way, he soon learned to just step aside and let the bully have his/her way.

I had to really contemplate the evils of the world that day and give my little guy some helpful advice after yet another child kicked him in the back to push him down the slide he was already reluctant to go down. Our gut response was to tell him to shove back, but then we returned to our Christian nature and settled on teaching him how to firmly, but politely, let others know they were crossing the line. “Next time that happens, you turn around and firmly say, ‘Stop! Please wait your turn,’” we instructed him. He seemed to like that suggestion, and fortunately he didn’t need to say it for the rest of the time we were in the pool (which wasn’t very long since we were all worn out by the hostile environment).

See, as Christians, we’re misfits. We don’t belong here. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). “But our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). We are different, and we are called to be different, and the bullies of the world hate people who are different.

Like Peter suggested (“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us,” 1 Peter 2:11-12), my husband and I are teaching our son that it’s better to be different than to duplicate the sin and ugliness of the world, and that being Godly will often bring about rejection. We can’t stop it. It is the way of the world…the world in which Christ has called us out of!

This is our temporary home. We are to be strangers here. We’re not here to belong or fit in. We are here to stand out, and many will hate us for that. But we will one day reap the rewards of being a misfit.

Image by sxc.hu user stevekrh19

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

No one basks in the notion of being rejected. In fact, the very thought of being rejected sends the senses into overdrive and messages travel to the brain that suggests revenge or inadequacy. How are we to respond when a parent, sibling, friend, love interest, or spouse rejects us? As hard as it might be, and as unnatural as it is, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must respond to them with love.

A response of love, in the face of an absolute right to “get even” and do “evil,” is the pathway to bouncing back from rejection. Let’s be clear, showing love in this instance may not be verbal affirmations of “I love you” or acts clearly suggestive of having amorous feelings towards that person. Instead, loving someone in the face of rejection simply means to forgive them and to wish them well and no harm. To give someone who has rejected you a gift or to do a good deed for them in their time of need is certainly admirable and is what Christ requires of us. However, if you haven’t yet reached that level of forgiveness in your heart, then mustering a smile, or refraining from ill-speaking of that person are acts that lend themselves towards forgiveness.

The attitude of loving kindness – “killing them with kindness” – is the prescription for getting over a bout of rejection.

Image by sxc.hu user ejdzej

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP)

Where we lack, God fills the gap. Where we fail, God provides success. When we are weak, God gives us strength. It is through all of our weak spots in life where God can truly work and reveal His glory.

Paul understood this. And here’s a perfect example of how someone–and not just anyone, but the man who wrote three quarters of the New Testament–prayed for a healing or a miracle, but instead was denied his request and was told, “Look, this ‘thing’ you’re dealing with won’t cause you to fail or stumble when sharing My Message. It may be uncomfortable, but it’s not going to kill you, because I won’t let it. I will give you strength where you need it most; where it matters the most.”

Instead of being angry at God’s rejection of his request, Paul found a way to rejoice and celebrate his own “infirmities.” He welcomed his weakness because he knew that in his own strength, he could do nothing, but with Christ’s strength he could do anything!

Image by sxc.hu user bathory909