As the disciples prayed together after the ascension of Jesus, their prayers prepared them for the power of God! Their prayers did not speed up the manifestation of promise of God, their prayers prepared them to receive what He had promised. When they were ready, the promise manifested and the power fell.
Have you ever considered that you may not yet have received your promise because you are not ready for it? In the disciples case, a big part of them being ready to receive and to walk in the promise of the Lord was that they needed to come into unity with each other… a house divided will never stand – as they prayed together in faith for days, trusting the Lord to bring to pass His promise, the anointing on their prayers imparted unity, forgiveness, love, grace and many other needed ingredients that were essential to sustain the pending revival after receiving the promise.
I am sure that many other essential things were imparted as they prayed – their prayers did not move God… their prayers gave the Lord room to bring about change in themselves.
As you pray, seek the Lord’s face and as you press into His presence, you are not changing God, persuading God or motivating God… you are communing with the Lord and allowing Him to prepare you to receive His promise and to implement what He gives you in such a way that success and blessing is maintained. As you are decreeing and declaring and calling those things that are not as though they were, the anointing on your prayers bring transformation to you. After the Lord has done a work in you, He can do a work through you.
Now I have to say this… I am not talking about receiving promises of healing or promises of provision that you need to sustain your life and to give you everything that you need for you personally – the Lord wants you fully taken care of now! Receive your needs right now by grace through faith!
I am talking about His promises that He has laid up for you to do great exploits in His name – exceeding riches, miracle working power to do mighty works, gifts of leadership and great wisdom and being fully equipped to rule and reign with Christ in this world – the promises of God toward you for these great things have to be held back until you are ready for them.
If the Lord allowed you to receive everything that you have been believing for immediately… if He allowed you to receive His promise before you are ready… that promise would destroy you! Countless people’s lives have been destroyed after winning the lottery, or after receiving promotions that they were not ready for. With great blessing comes great responsibility – with great blessing comes great persecution, with great blessing comes great spiritual attack… you have to have wisdom, divine ability and discernment… you have to be spiritually mature, have the fruit of the Spirit operating in your life and know how to hear the voice of God… you have to have your team in place and be connected to the right people… you have to be prepared before you receive! – Prayer allows the Lord to prepare you for His promises!
Pray continually and without ceasing… not to change the Lord, but to give the Lord place to prepare you – when you are ready, His promise will manifest.
Blessings on you, Nick
