Reactions to Answered Prayer

Have you ever considered what are appropriate reactions to answered prayer?  The first two are such common reactions, that you can probably state them without even looking up a verse of scripture.

Thanks – Jn 11:40-44.  Jesus said to his Farther, “I thank thee that thou hast heard me”.  We are to give thanks in everything.  And one of the most common responses to answered prayer should be to thank God publicly.

Praise – Ps 118:21.  The Psalmist wrote, “I will praise thee for thou hast heard me…”.  This is also one of the two most common reactions to answered prayer.  Everyone in this congregation tonight has thanked and praised the Lord for answered prayer on many occasions.

There are three other appropriate ways that we should react to God’s answers to our prayers.

Relief – 1 Sam 1:18.  Hannah had prayed earnestly for a son. Yet, she was full of sorrow because her adversary had provoked her and her womb was still barren.  When Eli confronted her, Hannah explained her dilemma.  Eli assured her that her petition would be granted and, thus, Hannah was no more sad.

When we pray and God assures us through his peace, which passeth all understanding, that our petition will be answered, we should respond with relief.  So often, people continue to fret until the prayer is finally and fully answered before they will experience relief.  We should, like Hannah, rest in God’s peace during the interim between him giving us peace and his final fulfillment of our request.

Action – Est 5:8, 7:6, 7:10, 8:1-6.  Esther very humbly presented her requests to the king.  Yet, when he answered and granted her requests, she went immediately to work with Mordecai to carry out what the king had approved.  She didn’t waste any time.  Nehemiah did the same thing, Neh 2:4-9, when the king granted his request.

When the Lord answers your prayer, you need to act on what he has answered for you.  He’s not going to do the work for you.  It’s not uncommon for us to wait around after God answers a prayer and, thus, we miss the opportunity he has provided.

Astonishment – Acts 12:12-16.  Astonish is to strike with sudden and usually great wonder or surprise.  When the King James Bile was written, it also meant to strike with sudden fear.

When God miraculously freed Peter from prison in Acts 12, he went straight to Mary’s house.  When they saw him standing at the door, “they were astonished”.  That miracle was beyond their expectations.  One preacher even suggested that they weren’t praying for his release, but rather, that he would be faithful to not deny Christ again.

There are times, when God answers our prayers, that we should be astonished.  The wonder is that God would perform such an answer to prayer, considering that “we” were the ones who asked.  Who are we that such a great God would even bother to do such a great miracle?  This should strike a wonder and fear in us that we never forget.

The news of the rescue of Josh Sullivan in South Africa this morning is just such an answer.  How in the world did the tactical forces return fire on the armed men shooting at them from a car and not hit Josh Sullivan one time?  Only God.

Conclusion: Remember then to not only thank and praise God for  answered prayer, but to also respond with relief, action, and astonishment.  Don’t overlook these.