Instantly Answered Prayers..

We live in a world where “ instant gratification” is the order of the day. We eat fast food , we want lightning speed internet and emojis have replaced letters or long text messages. We also desire the same thing with our prayers. We want immediate answers to our prayers. Now, whilst this is not a bad wish, we have to realize that God is not our Personal Assistant or Butler!

You can’t hurry God!

True, there are some situations that are truly desperate and you need immediate answers to your prayers to arrest the situation. However, most people want immediate answers to all their prayers and when the answers are not instantly received, they give up.

So, does God answer prayers?

The answer is a definite “ Yes!”

There are three ways that you can receive from God after you have prayed. One is a “ Yes” and what you you received answers to your prayers, you are happy and at peace. God can also tell you to “Wait”. This is a very difficult period for most people, because the waiting period involves exercising a lot of patience and travailing in prayer. Finally,God can say “No”because that is not his will for you.

This is when most people give up, as they are not ready to wait for God’s best plans for them. It could be that God has something better for you, but you may not see that because you are too fixated on your present desire which can lead to problems later in life.

There are several examples of how God answered prayers immediately they were prayed. For example,Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah in the desert was desperate for water for her son. She cried out to God and was shown a well where she quenched his thirst and he was revived.She gave the Bible one of the most precious covenant names of God- “Jehovah El -Roi” or the God that Sees Me”.

Also, Elijah on Mount Carmel with the Prophets of Baal, prayed for a few minutes and fire fell from heaven!

One of the greatest examples in the Bible of instantly prayer is the prayer of Eliezer of Damascus.

So, who was Eliezer ? He was Abraham’s servant and the head of his household. He was not a Jew, yet God honored his prayer. He had not even finished praying when God answered him! This confirms what God said in Isaiah 65: 24, when He said:

“I will answer them before they even call to me.While they are still talking about their needs,I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” NLT

We are first introduced to Abraham’s servant in Genesis 15. Then , Abraham was without a son or heir and he was afraid that his oldest servant will take over his inheritance when he died. In Genesis 15:1-6:

“Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.” Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”NLT

After this conversation, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to fulfill his words. This covenant was fulfilled with the birth of Issac, the promised child.

After the death of Sarah, Abraham was concerned that his son was not married. So, he got his servant Eliezer to go and look for a wife for his son. Abraham was concerned about who his son will be married to, especially when he saw the poor choices that Ishmael made when he got married to the Canaanite women, amongst whom they lived. So, he got Eliezer to swear an oath that he will travel to his ancestral place and look for a befitting wife for him from amongst his own people.

In Genesis 24:1-9:

“One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.” The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?” For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.” So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.” NLT