God....and Salvation

II Chronicles 20:9 NKJV

‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’

If there's anything I have become assured of, it is that God answers prayers. The problem however, is what we term 'answered prayers'. There are issues we take to God everyday and after some time, it appears as if God isn't interested in hearing those things. It looks as if we are hitting our heads on a brick wall, hoping it will break anytime soon. I have heard of people laying an issue before God for 35 years, trusting God for a resolution of that issue.

How then do we call on God and how are we sure he has even heard us? What gives us the assurance that he has answered even when the external circumstances around us have not even changed at all?
I believe that the answers to all these lie in our daily walk with God. Let me first of all establish a fact: God is not a talisman or charm that you tie around your waist for protection or an ingredient you wash into water and drink for miracles. You must nurture a daily walk with God. Only then can you know what is in his mind on a daily basis for your life.

The story of the good Shepherd is so fundamental to our walk of faith. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd and thd shepherd calls his sheep by name. It is a two-way street. You can bear Jesus and still go to hell because God doesn't know you. Atimes, people call his name when there's an emergency and he saves because he honours his name, but don't be deceived. Knowing how to call the name isn't the same as knowing the Name. Being able to read Psalm 23 by heart isn't the same as knowing the Shepherd of the Psalm.

The king here knew the God of Israel personally and so, he could call on his name for help. He also knew where to call for help also. He stood in the Presence of God and cried. Atimes, we are so carried away by worry that we do everything else except telling God. We call pity-parties and hold human conferences and carnal allegiances and pour out our hearts to people, half of who are happy that we have those problems and others who are grateful that their own situations are better than yours. No solutions, no advice, no answers.

There is no avoiding issues. They are a part of the ingredients God cooks to make us stronger. We must therefore go back to him for the solution and the breakthrough. His answers may not be what you expect but a relationship with God isn't based n convenience; it is based on trust: that he knows what he is doing, how best and at what time he will resolve those issues. He waited for the 3 Hebrew men to get into  fire before acting, Daniel got into the lions' den first. His timing is never off, we just need to trust his wisdom and his power more. By the way, answers came for the 35-year old request.

God saves. He hears and he acts so that ALL the glory goes back to him. Develop a relationship with God today and watch him act in your favour. Answers may not be what you expect, but it definitely will be the best for you. Rejoice, for his time of favour is here.