Daily Power #225

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11)

In the early years of our church, we were blessed to see tremendous growth. After finally constructing our first real church building, it wasn’t long before it was packed to capacity with multiple services.

While that is what most would call a “good problem,” it was still a problem. Week after week, we consistently turned people away, unable to fit them into the building. With as much faith as I could muster, I asked God to provide. Surely he would speak to multiple wealthy people who could give enough to help us build something bigger.

But the more we prayed, the more we sensed God wasn’t going to do what we were asking him to do. It was only after this sense of disappointment that God answered our prayers in a very different way. Once I finally started to surrender my will, our team had an idea. What if, instead of doing church at one building, we did church in two locations?

This idea opened the door to enable us to reach tens of thousands of more people than I ever dreamed possible. What seemed like a no from God was more of a redirecting from him. That’s when I learned that true prayer isn’t about getting our will, but surrendering our will.

Whatever you are facing, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. But don’t forget to remind yourself that our good God knows best.

Power Lift

Dear Father, you really do know best, and even when it might not be what I asked for, I will trust in you and your perfect will.