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■ If you want answers to prayer
First, we must first pray (verses 15, 16). Poor woman Hagar lay her dying son on her bed and cried and cried as far as the arrow flew away (about 300m). I hung my head and cried. Are tears a prayer? If those tears are only tears of lamentation, it is not prayer. But if those tears are looking to the Lord, it is prayer. If you want answers to prayers, you must first pray. Theologian Martin Lloyd-Jones once said, “How much you win today depends on how much you pray today.” Evangelist Charles Finney said, “If you don't pray for a day, you yourself will find that the power is not in you. If you don't pray for two days, your family will know that you don't have power. "If you don't pray for three days in a row, everyone will know that you don't have power." To receive prayer answers, you must first pray.
Second, we must believe in answers to prayer (verse 17). When Hagar cried out, an angel sent by God came and said, “Hagar, what is going on? don't be afraid God has heard the child over there.” Hagar wept, and God heard the child's groan. When you pray, you hear. He not only listens, but also speaks. However, not all prayers are OK! When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he said NO! Because it is more beneficial not to respond. Also, when Elijah prayed for rain, he allowed him to persevere up to seven times. Because everything has a time. God always answers our prayers. But God's answer is not one. There are three. I got it (Yes!), that's not it (No!), yes wait (Wait!).
Third, we must pray and seek (verse 19). Hagar wept bitterly, and her ears were opened and she heard the voice of God. I heard God's voice and my eyes were opened. So I found a spring water. The way to live is open. Prayer opens the eyes of your heart. There are times when you can just pray in front of a certain problem. But in most cases, prayer alone is not enough. We must pray and seek. If you find it, there is a way. Practice with confidence in the method I found. God will use that method.
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