Radical Faith: Preparing for Answered Prayer

“And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.” Philemon 1:22

Radical faith. The apostle Paul demonstrated it on numerous occasions, didn’t he? When he wrote the words above to fellow believer Philemon, he wrote them from prison—a place he frequented because of his bold displays of faith.

Being imprisoned didn’t dampen Paul’s faith, though. In fact, he made plans to visit Philemon based on his hopes of answered prayers. He encouraged Philemon to act in faith as well. Paul exhorted him to prepare a room for him—to behave as if the answer to prayer had already been granted.

When Paul told the Corinthians to live by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), he not only doled out instruction, he lived it himself. His instruction to Philemon shines as just one example.

What kind of faith are you and I demonstrating in our lives today? Could someone point to us and say, “Look at how she lives by faith. Look at how she trusts God.”

Are we like Paul? Are we living in the hope of answered prayer? Let’s think about what we can do right now to live in expectation and to prepare for the answers that God will send. Let’s show some radical faith.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

*Flickr photo by familymwr, Creative Commons License

*Please pray for Kay, one of the regular readers and online friends here on the blog. She recently found out she has breast cancer. If you’d like to offer her your support and prayers, take a moment to visit her on her blog, Notes from the Wall.

**Also, the Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway is still underway. Details are in my Oct. 16 post and sign-up is to the right. Don’t miss out on the chance to win a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.

Comments

  1. Laura Drumb says

    Never really thought before about the verse regarding preparing a room for Paul to visit showing such faith that the prayers would be answered. Interesting! We have had to exhibit that same faith in God’s answer with the transplant for Gary by making elaborate & detailed plans for a time “out there somewhere”. Yet we know it is coming & are eagerly anticipating it. My bags are packed, now all we are waiting on is for God to act!!

  2. Keeping Kay in my prayers. Thanks for such an insightful post.

  3. Thank you for your beautiful words on faith! : ) And thanks for the linky love too. : )

  4. Great, thought provoking post. Will definitely be praying for Kay.

  5. First of all… wow. That picture is absolutely amazing!

    Second – wowzers! That is a powerful verse. When my mom prays for me, she always tells me, “Now you receive that, young lady.” It is kind of the same thing. She prays… and waits… expecting her prayers to be answered. Just like Paul!

    I enjoy your blog very much, Cheryl. Thank you for all your encouragement here and with the comments on my blog, too.

    I got my lifenotes yesterday and can’t wait to read it!

  6. Thanks, everyone, for your sweet and encouraging comments. And Donna, so glad you enjoy my blog! :)

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