“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 ESV)

Perfect timing from God

Have you ever prayed for someone and then watched God answer your prayer in some amazing way with perfect timing? It’s very encouraging to see that happen.

Over the years, I’ve watched God reach many people I’ve prayed for. Family members and friends have come to Him, even though it seemed to take a long time sometimes. Some of them started out rejecting Jesus, and some seemed totally hopeless, but not to God! Over the years, God drew them with His Spirit and arranged for them to hear the gospel and become transformed.

My friend Terry

Right after I got saved, I excitedly called a friend of mine, Terry, to tell him about Jesus. But his reaction was the opposite of what I’d hoped for. He became angry and completely rejected what I had to say, and he even demanded that I never speak to him about it ever again. So after I hung up the phone, I simply prayed for him—that God would work in his heart, draw him by His Holy Spirit, send people to speak to him about Jesus, and, of course, that he would eventually be saved. I lost track of him, but about 40 years later, I got a call from him. He told me a wonderful story about his amazing journey towards faith and how Jesus had changed his life. He was now actively involved in the ministry of the church he regularly attends! Yes, God did answer my prayer for Terry! It seemed like a very long time to me, but it wasn’t for God. When you pray with faith according to God’s will (He isn’t willing for people to perish), He hears your request and answers it in perfect timing!

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 ESV)

Therefore

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 ESV)

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21:22 ESV)