DEVOTION FOR TODAY

I'm enjoying Phil. 4:6 from the Message version which says, "Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns." Whatever concern or care you have, pray it to God. When you pray, God answers and responds. His answer is always rapped with your faith in His ability and willingness to do even more than you think or ask.
Your faith is your proof God has heard you. Another word for faith is persuasion or confidence. Heb. 10:23,34-35 tells us what to do with this confidence until we see the actual manifestation. 1. Hold fast this confidence. The situation may get worse after you prayed. It may look like nothing is working. It may look like God has abandoned you. However, He gave you this gift of faith to hold onto. If you lose it, you will miss your answer. You have to be determined to hold tight to it until you see your answer. 2. Be patient. This is the ability to stay the same and on course until your answer comes. Patience is gathering all the emotions and motions of the answer to your prayers before it comes. Why? 1. You know God is faithful. He is not playing with your emotions. 2. Your confidence in Him is His down-payment for what you asked for. 3. You can't afford to lose on both sides. Whatever you lose on this side for waiting on God you can gain on the other side for waiting on Him. Partner with me to reach 30 million souls in 50 nations this year. Bishop Michael O. Amamieye - www.aggressivefaith.org.