Trust God's timing. That's what I want to tell you today. A prayer delayed is not a prayer denied.
God's time may not be your time. God's time may not be according to your expectations, but God has never made a mistake. God has never been late.
He's never missed an appointment. And so if you're waiting on God today, let me encourage you. Waiting on the Lord can be hard.
But here's the thing. The wait always has a purpose. God is never accidental.
He's intentional. Everything he does has a purpose. As much as we want to move forward now, as much as we want that breakthrough now, as much as we want that divine intervention now, sometimes we're just not ready.
Sometimes God can see that there is more we have to learn, so he makes us wait. Sometimes God can see that we have more to change, so he makes us wait. Sometimes God can see that we need more growth in our walk of faith and in our spiritual maturity.
So he makes us wait. Let me tell you this. Pray for patience and pray that through this season of waiting, God would give you grace and courage.
And furthermore, pray for God to reveal the next step for you in his timing. And finally, pray for your heart to be open to the work God's doing through this current season. Far too many believers make the mistake of giving up.
They stop praying. They stop believing and waiting on God just because the answer they want doesn't arrive when they want. Furthermore, the answer to your prayer may be delayed because of spiritual warfare.
Remember that the Bible tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities. And so, while we may not physically wrestle with evil forces, the fight can come in the form of a hindrance. And here's what I mean.
In the Amplified Translation, Daniel 10:12-13 says, "Then he said to me,"Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. " But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for 21 days. Then behold, Michael, one of the chief of the celestial princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
Daniel had prayed and prayed for weeks. And when his answer came, he was told that his prayer wasn't denied, but it was in fact delayed. It was delayed because of the prince of Persia, the evil principal spirit of that region was hindering Daniel's prayer.
And so saints, could it be that your prayer is actually not denied, but in fact delayed because of evil opposition? Could it be that the devil or a principality is actually wrestling with the answer to your prayer? This is why we ought to be wise and mature as believers so that we can be alert and mindful of how our prayers are fought.
And I would like to encourage you that when you do come up against something that threatens you, turn to Psalm 35 and pray from the word of God saying, "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor.
Arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, "I am your salvation.
" May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame. May those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay. May they be like chaff before the wind with the angel of the Lord driving them away.
Dear friends, may I remind you that God is your protector. God is a shield that can block every attack regardless of what form it comes in. It will not prosper when you're with Jesus Christ.
Our Lord is a mighty fortress, meaning he is a hiding place. In him, no enemy, whether visible or invisible, can touch you. So take a step back and try handing things over to God.
Get to a place where you say, "I'm turning this over to you, Lord. " Get to a place where you say, "I won't spend my life worrying trying to fix everything and everyone. I will trust in you, God, to fight for me.
" Let us pray. Lord God, if I am being placed in a season of waiting because you want to grow my faith or grow my maturity, then may your will be done, King Jesus. Give me the grace to wait on you expectantly with assured faith.
Give me the grace to be unshakable in my trust in you. So that even though my breakthrough or your intervention may not come when I want it to come, I will not be discouraged but firm in faith believing that you will arrive in your perfect time, which will be the right time. Micah 7:7 says, "But as for me, I will look to the Lord.
I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Help me to have a spirit that is humble and faithful.
A spirit that always believes that my God will hear me despite the many discouraging voices in this world. Despite the many accusations and lies from the enemy, I declare that I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we trust and believe that transformation can and will take place in our lives. Where we are weak, through the strength you provide, we will be made strong. We will be able to overcome.
I place my faith in what your word says, Lord. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
" That is why for Christ's sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. I am thankful, Lord, that your grace is indeed sufficient for me.
Indeed, your loving kindness and your mercy are more than enough for me. Your grace and mercy is always available to me regardless of the situation and I truly am grateful. King Jesus, may your power be perfected.
May it be completed and shown to be most effective in my weakness. That way you get the glory, Lord. You get the honor.
Father, your word says in 1 Chronicles 16:34, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. " Your word, Lord, tells me that I will praise the name of God with a song. I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
I am so thankful for your love, King Jesus. that even though you knew everything about me, you knew all of my shortfalls and all of my mistakes, but yet you still died in my place, opening up the way to eternal life for me. Help me not to let my heart be overwhelmed.
Your word in Psalm 61:1 to4 says, "Oh God, listen to my cry. Hear my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help.
When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the towering rock of safety. For you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings.
Father, may we dwell in your presence forever. You are a strong tower, our divine refuge, and a safe place. Be glorified and praised forever more.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.
" But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for 21 days. Then behold, Michael, one of the chief of the celestial princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. But as for me, I will look to the Lord.
I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. My grace is sufficient for you.
For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong. Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good. For his mercy endures forever.
Oh God, listen to my cry. Hear my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help.
When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the towering rock of safety. For you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings.