Praying Expectantly

Praying expectantly

In 1996 I was driving a 12 year old Honda that my dad had bought me in college. Bill and I could not afford to make repairs to it, so as things broke or fell off we kept our fingers crossed and kept driving it. Years had passed since the car had been tuned up and the muffler had a huge hole in it so it sounded like a tractor coming down the road. But the thing that made me the angriest was the fact that the air conditioner only blew hot air. In the summer I would dress to go out and no matter how good I looked when I left, when I arrived at my destination my clothes were sweaty and clinging to me, my hair was a mess, and my makeup was running.

At the same time, I was involved in an Experiencing God Bible study and had reached the section in the study in which Blackaby discusses praying expectantly. As I sat at my kitchen table and studied, I would look out at that car and wonder, “Why doesn’t God do anything about that car and the way I’m suffering?” So one day I decided I’d try it. I said to God, “I believe that the God of the universe who created the giant, mysterious planets and the microscopic, mysterious organisms can provide me with a brand new car!” I wrote it in my book as if that would really hold Him to it. If he didn't answer my prayer then the request would be hanging there like a big, stinking....unanswered prayer.

The next day as I sat again at my kitchen table studying and looking out at that hated car, God said to me very quietly, “Do you ever wonder why that car just runs and runs and runs? It goes and goes without a tune-up in years. Every time you get in, it cranks right up.” The miracle of a car that had no reason to still be running became apparent to me. My earthly father, by that time, had already given me 2 cars. The gift of a new car really wasn’t a miracle. The true miracle was in the God who provided for my needs using nothing but rust, junk, and hot air.

I had prayed expectantly. The answer I got was unexpected. I hope God speaks to you today.