When we pray, do we really put ourselves in a mode of expectation believing that we will receive? If we don’t believe that we will receive, why waste our time praying? It is almost-actually-it *is* an insult to God to be praying for an outcome and yet not believing that we will receive what we ask. Ultimately it is up to God to answer the prayer in the manner that aligns with His sovereign will, we know that. But to not fully believe that God can and will answer the prayer that we pray is double-mindedness. We might as well not take the request to Him in the first place.

Both during and after prayer, are we expectant? Let’s imagine this scenario (based on an illustration given by one of my besties, Spurgeon): Someone tells you they will come visit you and you will both head out at 10:00 and you have left the clothes you will wear rumpled and unironed and you are sleeping and only start ironing right as they show up.They come fifteen minutes late and you are angry they are late and say: “why are you late, I have been waiting for you!” Are you not a liar? WAITING implies readiness to move! So the fact that you were not ready, clothes not ironed and all shows that you were not *really* WAITING for the friend in deed and truth regardless of what your words said and their lateness shows that. Waiting/Expectation is alertness and readiness and once the friend shows up, you move! But how often do we have the same double-minded spirit in our prayer lives? Words not matching action!

Friend, think about even one prayer that you make on a regular basis. If God should answer it immediately, are you ready for the answer? Do you even have specific things you are praying for? When we pray, let our actions match the truth of our prayers. Let us examine our lives post-prayer time and begin to act in a manner of readiness and expectation and this can take many forms: it may involve repentance of sin and cleansing ourselves for sinful patterns, it may involve seeking restoration for a particular relationship, it may involve applying to that job, or reaching out to offer comfort and help to the person we are praying for.

In short, all I am saying, to myself and to you, is that we should truly mean what we pray and seek to make sure we have done everything we need to do to be expectant and READY to receive an answer/answers from God because we are putting action to our faith and prayer and then we yield in surrender for His own results and timing and for Him to move as He pleases: for His glory and the good of His church.

God help me. God help you. In Jesus name, amen.