Not by Might nor by Power

Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.



I was disappointed as I reasoned with my then 16 year old son, Johnny. Not disappointed that he wanted to finish college first, but that he didn't seem to have a desire to go on an extended missions trip or go overseas to bible school to dive into the Word before he started college at a secular school. I shared with him that right after graduation would be a perfect time to do something like it because he had no responsibilities of family, job, etc. and he would probably never be able to get another opportunity. Even when I mentioned it, I could sense he had already decided he wasn't going to do it. Every part of me wanted to continue reasoning with him and arguing with him about why it was such a good idea. But deep in my heart, I said these exact words..."Ok, I won't mention it again, but you can't escape my prayers." I smiled to myself knowing that the Lord would honor my quiet spirit (which is very difficult for me by the way), and He would honor my self control in not quarrelling. I was certain I could come to the Lord with my request and He would move on my behalf if I acted in meekness and faith.

That evening, I added this important request to my prayer journal. The Lord brought a scripture to my spirit. Exodus 10:1-2 Now the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord." You see, the Lord wants to take every opportunity to bring glory to Himself...He is worthy of all praise. I knew as soon as I read this truth that in the end, no matter how long it took, the Lord would bring glory upon Himself. I also knew if He could change Pharoah's heart from hard to soft, he could certainly change Johnny's heart who had a deep desire to serve and honor the Lord.

It has been over a year since I wrote that in my prayer journal. I have quietly come to the Lord with my request and I have never mentioned anything about bible school or a missions trip to Johnny again since that day. I have waited patiently on the Lord for Him to bring glory to Himself. Just a couple of days ago, I was riding in the van with Johnny. "You know, mom, I've continued to have this feeling in my heart that God wants me to go to go out of the country either to bible school or on a missions trip with Gospel for Asia. The Lord has just continued to bring it up in my heart. I don't know what to think about that."

He didn't know what to think about it, but I did! I wanted to jump up and down and get out of the van and do a dance! Our God hears our prayers and if we wait, He will answer, without fail, 100% of the time. We don't have to knock our kids over the head or beat our husbands to listen, or be verbally aggressive to get our way. We just need to have a quiet spirit, and come to the One who will change our situation. He is in the business of the heart. He judges the heart and works in the heart and He is very, very good at the work He does. I want to bring honor and glory to the One who knows our hearts. I am thankful today that the Lord gave me His Word and He ALWAYS tells me the truth. If we seek Him and His Word and quietly come to Him with our requests, He will move and it's the most amazing thing! I pray that you never give up asking, seeking, and knocking. Because if we ask, it will be given to us, if we seek, we will find, and if we knock, the One who opens the doors, will open it to us! (Matthew 7:7) God Bless you this Christmas!