Answered Prayer

John 4:53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." And he himself believed, and all his household.

53 ἔγνω οὖν ὁ πατὴρ ὅτι [ἐν] ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ ἐν ᾗ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ὁ υἱός σου ζῇ, καὶ ἐπίστευσεν αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ οἰκία αὐτοῦ ὅλη.

A man came to Jesus asking for healing for his son.  Jesus told him that he simply had to go home in faith and the man's son would be well.  As he was going home he was met by his servants with good news -- his son was well!  He asked when the fever left him and then put 2 and 2 together.  He realized that Jesus did indeed heal his son.

As someone who aspires to be more of a praying man this convicts me.  I tend not to have a long litany of prayers because I don't think that God works that way.  I don't think that healing or revival are contingent on gathering enough signatures on a petition to take to God.  Based on passages like Ephesians 1:10, I don't think that God changes His mind.  He has a plan for the fullness of time and we're not going to change that.  I also know that God uses means to do His will and the prayers of the saints are one of those means.

The conviction comes because I often do not put 2 and 2 together.  I don't reconcile the answer with the prayer. This is a shame because I lose an opportunity to give God thanks and praise.  The work He does in our lives is for the glory of His name.  Let's be sure to pay attention to how He works.

Plus, this can be a boon to our own faith.  Let us remember what He has done as that will increase our faith and trust in Him.  I know I could use more of both.