Life Plan Devotion #114 [Get prayers answered, 5th condition, Part I]

Hi, Everyone.
I'm not free to give details, but I just want to say that God performed a miracle yesterday and one today, for two dear friends. I give Him all the praise, honor, and glory!
Yesterday, my 7th grandbaby was born. His name is Solomon Michael, and he weighed in at 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 inches long. My daughter-in-love, baby, daddy, and 3 other brothers are all doing well. :)
How has God blessed you lately? I'd love to hear from you.

Life Plan Devotion #114 [Get prayers answered, 5th condition, Part I]

Mark 11:24 "...Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it]" (Amplified).

     Of the 7 basic conditions to answered prayer, we have looked at the first four:
1) Pray in the Name of Jesus.
2) Pray with praise and thanksgiving.
3) Pray without known (unconfessed) sin in your life.
4) Pray with the right motive, which is God's glory.
     Today and tomorrow, we will look at the 5th condition: 5) Pray from the place of right relationship. Take some time to examine your relationship with your spouse, child(ren), parent(s), close friend(s), coworker(s), boss, church family, etc.
     In thinking about each of those people and your relationship with them, did you feel a "check" in your spirit? Don't be surprised, because "the heart knows its own bitterness..." (Proverbs 14:10, NKJV).
     If nothing comes up for you, just to be sure all your relationships are "right," ask a trusted friend or your spouse to help you discern any relationship that needs tending. In the story of the conversion of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25), Peter confronts Simon and with discernment says, "...your heart is not right in the sight of God. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness, and bound by iniquity" (Acts 8:21, 23, NKJV).
     One cannot discuss the importance of right relationships to answered prayer without broaching the topic of forgiveness.
     Did you know you can grieve the Holy Spirit? Ephesians 4:30 admonishes the believer with, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin)" (Amplified).
     Instead of grieving the Holy Spirit, we are to "Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).
     Read our key verse (at the top) once again. The verse that follows (Mark 11:25) says, "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop" (Amplified). The implication is that if you choose to continue praying rather than forgive, your prayer will be ineffective.

What this has to do with weight loss: The weight-loss journey brings up much more than the need to release weight. After weight-loss surgery, especially, emotions are on edge, and if there are relationship issues pre-op, they will be magnified post-op. Seek help, and learn to forgive. If you don't, you will struggle, eventually, to release the weight or maintain the weight loss.

Confession:
I want to be confident that my prayers are heard and my requests granted, so I tend to my relationship with others. I want God's forgiveness for myself, so I am quick to forgive others.

Blessings,
Mary

How wonderful for you and your family. Congrats. My niece and nephew are the loves of my life and I watch my mom with them it must be super wonderful to be blessed with grandchildren. Enjoy them all you can. I want to thank you for the prayers. Things are getting better, in His time I have to keep thinking. He will take care of all. God Bless you.

In Christ
Karyn

Hi, Karyn.
Thanks for reading and replying. I'm so happy that "things are getting better." Notice each and every improvement, no matter how small, and rejoice in and focus on each one. They will increase. :)
Blessings,
Mary

Congratulations, Grandma Mary!
There is no greater miracle than the birth of a baby.  Give him a kiss for me!

Vickie

It's "Nana," Vickie. "Grandma" sounds too old. LOL  I will be most happy to kiss his little face for you and me both. :)

Hi Mary,

Congratulations on your new grandbaby. What a joy!

Thank you for the devotional. It was so good. What a blessing. This is just confirmation to what the Lord was speaking to me last night as I was reading a book by Cindy Jacobs.

We cannot be truly free, if we harbor any unforgiveness. I spent some time in prayer last night forgiving people that have hurt me. And you're so right, our heart knows who they are!

I felt so much better last night after I forgave many people and asked God to forgive me for the unforgiveness and offense I was holding in my heart.

Thanks for being a blessing to the people on this forum and for speaking God's Word.

Blessings to you,

Carolyn

Hi, Carolyn.
Thanks so much for reading and replying. It blesses me! I love how the Lord confirms His Word with us, through various means. He is truly faithful. Congratulations on being obedient to the Holy Spirit's prompting to forgive. I know how wonderful it feels to have done so. :)
In Christ,
Mary