How many times have you prayed to God about issues, guidance, clarity, or peace? I know I have over a thousand times. He’s probably tired of hearing from me. I know he’s not of course, but I talk to him A LOT! I’ve prayed for things, through situations, for people in my life, for people I want to come into my life, my daughters, you name it. I speak to God about everything you can possible think of. In a particular season in my life, I asked God for clarity with my career, purpose, and to increase my faith in him. Soon did I realized my prayers require sacrifice.
Understand most conversations are not one sided but can be. It’s very easy to dump, vent and unload all of life’s problems onto God and move forward with the thought process that he’ll work it out in our best interest. We go on about our lives because bills have to be paid, the 10-page paper has to be written for class, and deadlines have to be met at work. However, as we ask for strength, clarity and focus; what are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve the end result?
My life is constantly moving. If you’re a new reader, I’m a single mother of two beautiful daughters ages 13 and 9, full time employee in the Corporate America world and I just finished my second Masters. I never stopped running around since I became a mom at the age of 16. My life has always been in constant go-mode. This has since changed and I’m truly thankful. However, there was a time when I was moving so fast through life that God forced me to stop.
Has God ever snatched something away from you to grab your attention and made your realize your prayers require sacrifice?
During my undergrad, I lost my job. Yes, just like that it was GONE! That was a very trying season to say the least. Balancing the little finances, I had, looking for a new job, going on interviews, and managing my girls’ activities during the summer months. Now that I look back at it, I needed this because little did I know at the time I was experiencing a shift. I received clarity on the next path I was to take regarding my career. My faith in God increased and my relationship with him reached new heights. God revealed to me what my purpose entailed and how it looked. This time also allowed me to completely focus on completing my last two semesters without any interference with work.
THIS IS WHAT I PRAYED FOR…..
While in this season it has extremely hard! I cried some nights, I fasted, I prayed, but most importantly I stayed in connection with God ALL THE TIME! Reflecting on this moment in my life, I can see God’s blessing and grace carrying both myself and my girls all the way through that summer. God provided every step of the way. We didn’t go hungry. Bills were paid, and I still had the resources to do fun activities with my girls over the summer. God was so good to us in this season and gentle with me as well. I could only imagine what would have taken place if God didn’t remove me from that position.
It made me wonder….
How long would I have traveled on the wrong path? Would I have paid close attention to the blessings he’s placed at my feet and seeing how he aligned everything in my path just for me? Would I have even recognized how GOD provided for me and my girls?
Remembering that I prayed to God for clarity with my career, and how I can be of service to him but not understanding the path I would need to take in order to reach my final destination made me realize I needed to make sacrifices and experience being uncomfortable in order to make room for the answers to my prayers.
What are you willing to sacrifice in order for God respond to your prayers?
This may be a difficult question to answer but truly think about it. It never crossed my mind nor did I think for one second that I needed to sacrifice my current job in order to make room for the position God had for me. I figured, I would apply for a few jobs while currently employed. Then he would just tell me one day through someone close to me, as I journaled in the morning, or as I worked out at the gym (God drops the most amazing gems at the craziest times).
However, what I prayed for required a new version of me to appear. So that meant I needed to be stretched. While being stretched, I was made uncomfortable. My prayers required sacrifice. Therefore, sacrificing my comfortability and releasing a piece of my independency to fully depend on God was extremely necessary in order to reach the new level he had destined for me.
3 Scriptures that carried me through….
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:7 New International Version
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 New International Version
The Sacrifice is Worth it….
Grab this message sis, what God is removing is only preparing you for the next level you prayed for. YOU PRAYED FOR THIS! You’re letting go of, or in my case God is removing from you, is worth it in order to receive all that God has for you in the next season of your life. You will be uncomfortable, you will want to give up, you will want to quit but DON’T! Your prayers require sacrifice!
Prepare yourself for the next chapter God has for you because the sacrifices you’re making now are worth it! Remember your prayers require sacrifice!
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