Are You still there? Are You mad? What did I do…or not do?
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 33:20-22 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices.
Psalm 83:1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.
Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Lamentations 3:24-26 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly.
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Luke 24:13-32 The Emmaus Road That very day two of them were going to a village turned to Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together; Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are hold with each other as you walk?: And they stood still, looking sad, Then one of them, named Clopus, answered are, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there is these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were arrived at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with s went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going further, but they urged him strongly, saying “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went into stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to esch other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
James 1:6-7 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
It is difficult to seek God when He seems silent and quiet and “too busy” to answer the likes of you. Then one tends to withdraw, searching for sins we might not have confessed, or have buried, and have hidden far away. Maybe we have a long time resentment for something, snubbed someone, have an underlying anger, foul language, gossip (that can be ME much more often than I like to admit—HELP) , not spending alone time with Him as much as I need to . But it is NOT God who is distant. It is something we have done and maybe somewhat unaware of, but it is a sin we have committed. And sometimes, it helps to pray and seek Him with thankfulness–and then just silently wait.
But what about silence when you ask about prayer for prayers to save those you love who do NOT believe there is truly a mighty God. I know others have the gift of freedom of choice, I want to know, have the reassurance before I die that my family members who do not believe and are such good people WILL be saved. Silly, arrogance folks who smirk when I talk about Him….This is TOO important. I don’t want their free will and pride to burn them for eternity. . . .I know there are promised is there that our prayers will be answered if they are God’s will–He wants no one to perish; if prayer is from the soul and filled with gratefulness–I ma grateful to God that He placed me where He has all my life–and I have been blessed with the people in my life. God can buckle a person’s knees so one has to face the floor and their own pain, sin and arrogance. My uncertainty comes from the fact God blessed all of us with free will, free choice.
I know You want no one to perish, I know my family sees me as steadfast as a Jesus believer and follower, it is not His will that any should perish, that all have freewill in decisions, and that He will provide opportunities other than me to have folks speak of eternity, of Jesus and His sacrifice and Truth, Life, Light and the only WAY. Open their eyes so they can truly see You. He answers all prayers IF they are according to His will–and it is His will that NO ONE should perish, that He chose and because He wants no one to perish, He must have written all names in His book–and then it is their gift of free will to choose Him or not. He answers ALL [prayers] IF according to His will.
But what if you are unsure of what His will is? He is making no discernible communication about this prayer. You do not know if it is “yes, later” or a definitive “NO” But silence. . . That increases my anxiety. Do You hear me? Are You there? Have I messed up? Examine? Examine? Not finding a reason for Your silence. . . .Nay? Yay? Later? This is when it is difficult for me to go forward when I am getting nothing but silence. Yes, i continue to pray-that like the woman who continues to beg for her daughter. . . but the silence fills me. And is so quiet. I would much rather hear from You–even if Nay. I would keep pounding on your door begging for a loaf of bread…….begging that You save my family from eternal fires… “Faith and fear both demand you believe in something you cannot see. You choose; after all, He gave you the gift of free choice.” Bob Proctor , 1970’s during his self help seminars.
I do not like the quiet times when God is not answering. Not that He is totally silent–He shows my birds playing in the birdbath–drinking, bathing, just resting on its edge, He shows me the birds seeking the food and fluttering and sharing–or trying to share even when hunger pushes one out of another’s way. They bring such joy–and God knows that it is one of His many gifts to me–so thank You. I enjoy so many of Your blessing–sunrises, sunsets, blue skies, family, friends, You and my gift of salvation, the love and affection of my pets, and my neighbors, and all that You have blessed me with
But I would love the reassurance that all these loving folks will be saved. They will find you, fall face forward, confess and seek You more and more, and become warriors for You in the final battle.
Lord, thank You for Your promises and the many blessings. I pray that my wonderful family is humbled to seek and accept You. You have given me love, insight, desire to see You more, and the reassurance of Your love. Always You have given me undeserved blessings for me and ‘mybellaviews.’
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