More Than a Business

There's a business tip I learned many years ago that I still try to hold to. If someone calls you and leaves a message, give yourself only a 24 hour window to get back with them. Even if it's just a quick text to let them know you received their call, go out of your way to do it. There's just something about promptness that we appreciate from businesses. People don't want to be on hold too long. They feel like a valued customer when we attend to them within a reasonable time. It's just good business and creates a great first impression if it's their first time reaching out to you.

Communication with God, however, can take on a different pulse. And that can be very difficult for us to adjust to. We often expect the same prompt service from God as we do from our businesses. We want in-and-out experiences with Him, like a fast food drive-thru. We want to 'put in our order' in the morning and see a return on our prayers by the end of the day. "We can't wait around here, God. Let's get moving!" we might say. haha

But, sometimes things take time. Does it mean He doesn't hear us if we don't get an immediate answer? NO. Daniel, in the Bible, learned this first hand. He prayed and he didn't get an answer for a long time...only to find out that God heard him from the moment he started praying. But there was spiritual resistance that Daniel couldn't see. He could have thought that God was either deaf or ignoring him. But neither was true. God heard and the delayed answer had nothing to do with God's attitude toward Daniel or as a result of Daniel doing something wrong. 

What's important to remember is prayer is relationship-based. It is about getting to know God and His ways. We have to remember, He doesn't think like us. His ways are not like ours. So, He's not going to handle us the same way a business will handle us. He's after far more than a business relationship. He's after our hearts!

So, decide now. Decide to get to know the God you are asking things from. He's a real Person, not a genie in the sky. He is a Father, a Friend, a Companion. Get to know Him. Feel His pulse and how He does things. And choose to listen. Choose to let the conversation go both ways. HE would love to talk to YOU, beyond the requests you bring!

And be open to His answers. You might ask something from Him and His answer might not be what you expect. You might be asking Him to change a person in your life and He might respond with something He'd love to refine in your life! haha! Didn't see that coming, huh? haha! 

And then choose to obey Him. His answer may come in the form of asking you to do something specifically. Choose to follow His leading. If you're asking Him for help, follow the steps He is asking you to take. It's illogical not to. If I call 911 and ask for help, you better believe I'm going to follow the steps they give me over the phone. 

Know most of all that God loves you and he wants the very best for your life. Talk to Him. Get to know Him more. The more you know Him and the deeper your relationship is, the greater the confidence you will have in your requests. You will have an ever-growing assurance that He hears you and will respond, even if you have to wait. 

***

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. 

When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. 

On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. 

Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. 

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.” 

While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my Lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my Lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” 

Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” 

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my Lord, for you have strengthened me.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.10.1-19.NLT

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