26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
The simplicity of this statement is so powerful.
You answered me.
Jesus said that one of the reasons He wants to answer our prayers is that we may have joy:
Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
I’d like to share a time when God answered a simple prayer of mine. When I graduated from college, I sent out an email inviting my family and friends to come. I was overwhelmed by the response - 40 people planned on coming! Wonderful!
I soon found out that everyone had to have a ticket to attend the graduation ceremony. Okay. Not a big deal. Until I found out that each student was only going to be given 3 tickets. Yikes. All these people were coming from out of town, and I wasn’t even sure I could get them in to see the ceremony! So I looked online - I found some tickets on eBay - two for $50. Uh oh.
A grad student told me, “don’t worry - you’ll get as many as you need at the ticket lottery. No one shows up.” However, when I showed up - the place was packed!
The situation looked impossible. I was facing severe embarrassment, if my family would come from so far, and yet not be able to get into the graduation ceremony.
Yet God answered. The following is taken from my journal:
Wednesday April 9, 2008
Lord Jesus, I have many family members coming from out of town for my graduation / Mother’s Day. I have been really stressed about getting enough tickets, and about where to go to eat on Mother’s Day. Will You please provide us tickets for Saturday, May 10 - at least 40 - and a terrific restaurant for Sunday May 11? I would so much appreciate it. As it is, I now only have 8 tickets. Or more importantly - not so much tickets, but just that everyone can get in to see the graduation - tickets or not!
Monday April 21, 2008
Thank you Lord! 4 tickets from Greg. (12 tickets)
Tuesday April 29
3 from lottery, 1 from Sergio, 2 from Mark. Thank you Lord. (18 tickets)
Monday May 5
9 from the Special Events office (they were only giving 3, but I showed them my list of names and they gave me 6 extra!).
4 from Joe, 3 from Todd, 3 from Wes, and 1 from Juan. (They all went to Special Events just to get me tickets!)
That’s 38 so far! Thank you Lord!!
Tuesday May 6
I went to Special Events again and got the last 2 tickets today for a total of 40! Praise God!
Thursday May 8
Talked to the ladies in the Engineering office - they had heard I was trying to get a bunch of tickets and they gave me 2! Right place at the right time! Hallelujah!
(End of Journal Entry)
Wow. God came through. Everyone who came into town was able to attend, and we had a wonderful time. It was such a blessing to have my family there to celebrate with me. God is faithful.
It wasn’t life threatening. Sure, I would have been embarrassed if it hadn’t worked out - but it wouldn’t have been the end of the world. Still, I declared my ways, and my Father answered me.
There is nothing too big or too small for God. The Bible says that God actually delights in answering prayer (see Prov 15:8). Therefore,
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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