Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

PRAYER ANSWERED

January 4, 2010

Imagine God coming to us after we've prayed. "Okay, I heard your prayer. Very good! Here's my answer to your prayer. This is what you can expect of me. And this is what I expect of you."
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"I have heard the prayer and plea you made before me...As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness...I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever...But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees..."
- 1 Kings 9:3-6 TNIV
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Upon the completion of the temple, Solomon prays a dedicatory prayer. In 1 Kings 9, we hear God's answer to Solomon's prayer. God is gracious with Solomon and the people of God, yet God has expectations, as well. "Yes, I will bless you and your people, but I call you to faithfulness."

While we don't want to trivialize our lives with God to "You're good, I'll be good to you; you're bad, I'll do bad to you..."--we are summoned to faithfulness. Hear again those words: integrity, uprightness. Answered prayer not only is a blessing, but a call to responsibility. That's what faithfulness is all about.
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson