Prudent1
Well-Known Member
Ladies I wanted to share this excerpt from a wonderful, godly, career coach by the name of Dan Miller. I hope it will bless you as you read it with an open mind.
"I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs." -- Frederick Douglass
Okay – I referenced this quotation last week and it continues to prompt a whole lot of questions from you, our readers. People want to know what that means, and furthermore, can I find scripture to support whatever it means.
Yes, I see far too many people who are “praying” for solutions and answers – and simply living in that prayerful mode – hands folded and eyes closed, waiting on God to supernaturally give them the specific answer that will remove their challenge. So, just how does God answer our prayers?
Imagine any of these situations with me:
And can I find scripture to support faith and prayer that involve our legs? Oh yeah. My favorite is in Exodus 14:15. Moses is dealing with those whining, complaining children of Israel who see the Egyptians coming after them in the desert. I can just see them on their knees, praying and begging God to solve their problems. And the verse says – “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!’” (Living Bible)
God provides food for the birds – but he doesn’t just show up and throw it in their nest. Sometimes the exercise of faith we need most may be to engage our spiritual quadriceps, stretch those hamstrings and use our gluteus maximus for something other than supporting our head while we pray.
"I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs." -- Frederick Douglass
Okay – I referenced this quotation last week and it continues to prompt a whole lot of questions from you, our readers. People want to know what that means, and furthermore, can I find scripture to support whatever it means.
Yes, I see far too many people who are “praying” for solutions and answers – and simply living in that prayerful mode – hands folded and eyes closed, waiting on God to supernaturally give them the specific answer that will remove their challenge. So, just how does God answer our prayers?
Imagine any of these situations with me:
- You really need a job
- You’d like a better car
- You want to make peace with your spouse
- Your lawn mower is broken
- You want to have a best-selling book
- You would like to have a college degree
- You want to be a more effective parent
- You must have $5,000 for a new air conditioning unit
And can I find scripture to support faith and prayer that involve our legs? Oh yeah. My favorite is in Exodus 14:15. Moses is dealing with those whining, complaining children of Israel who see the Egyptians coming after them in the desert. I can just see them on their knees, praying and begging God to solve their problems. And the verse says – “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward, march!’” (Living Bible)
God provides food for the birds – but he doesn’t just show up and throw it in their nest. Sometimes the exercise of faith we need most may be to engage our spiritual quadriceps, stretch those hamstrings and use our gluteus maximus for something other than supporting our head while we pray.
So does the biblical principle of faith w/o works being dead. As a matter of fact, all of God's promises can be rendered null and void by things like unconfessed sin, bitterness, wrong thinking, fear, laziness, fornication,bad attitudes, doubt, etc. IOW, a life lived out of balance with what His will is. Of course, I don't know what you mean when you say you have applied yourself to finding a mate but I would encourage you to evaluate if you have applied yourself and are truly ready for a mate. You may have. This is purely rhetorical. For example, if you decide you want to go back to school, you can't just show up at the university of your choice and say, "Here I am!" and have a seat in some random class. There is a lengthy preparation process involved. So too there is a preparation process involved in getting ready for a godly marriage. I'm not saying you haven't been preparing. I am saying that marriages are sacred to God. They are the best example given to humans of how he feels about his church. When you have a marital facade, it is is disaster all the way around. He does not want you to ever feel that type of pain and disappointment.
This is just general food for thought. A few years ago after my divorce, I decided I was ready for a serious relationship again. I was not.
. I am now 100 times the woman I was then (Thanks be to God).
So, I'm just saying don't give up on God b/c he hasn't given up on you! Make sure you are a yielded vessel who realizes that the learning process will never end. Don't give up! Put your emphasis on enjoying life and getting ready. Search some of Bunny77's comments in this forum. She appears to have been very balanced in her desire for/ approach to finding a spouse and is getting married in 4 months or so. It wasn't overnight but she got at it. 
