Once Jesus came across ten men with leprosy who cried out to Him for mercy. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. As they went they were healed. Out of the ten men, only one came back praising God and thanking Him for hearing his prayer. This account is something we see played out on an almost daily basis. So many cry out on the name of the Lord asking Him to move in their situation. Yet so few return to Him after He has moved to give Him thanks. They credit the change in their situation to blind luck and not an answer from God.
Luke 17:11–16 (ESV)
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
I have noticed this same thing happen even more in very recent days. When COVID-19 first hit the radar estimated case numbers and death tolls where showing astronomical numbers. Projections were so far off the charts it caused the entire world to basically shut down. Thankfully the numbers we have seen have been far less than what was predicted just months ago.
To me, this is an answer to prayer with all the credit going to God. All across our world, Christians bound together in prayer. United in their cause and crying out for God to move throughout the world. We asked for the numbers to remain low and for a few people to die from this virus as possible. God heard our prayers and answered them. Just as His word said He would.
1 John 5:14–15 (ESV)
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
The Lord should be receiving all the praise and credit for the unexpectedly low numbers we have seen by those who prayed for this very thing. Sadly though that is not the response we are seeing from so many Christians. Instead of thanking God for what He has done, people are turning to government conspiracies, overzealous scientists, hype inducing media agencies, and even the antichrist. Choosing to give them the credit for all we have seen and not the one they themselves cried out to.
This is a troubling thing and we see it so often when God answers prayers. It doesn’t just pop up in major world events like COVID-19 but even in our own personal lives. We pray for the pain to be taken away, sickness to be healed, relationships to mended and so much more. Yet when we receive an answer for our prayer we so rarely go back to God and offer Him praise for moving in our situation. So often we miss the very hand of God in our lives. Instead, we give the credit to medicine, time, others, happenstance, and even ourselves for what God orchestrated.
The truth is God works at levels far beyond what we are often able to understand. Doing things in a way that causes us to more often than not, miss Him moving right in front of us. Leading us to the desired outcome almost unsure how we got there. When Joshua received the vision foretelling the authority he would hold over his brothers I’m sure he never thought it would require what it did. Like being sold by them into slavery and wrongfully imprisoned. But in the end, he still gave God the credit for using him to save the Israelites.
Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
When we seek out God in prayer asking Him to move in our lives we must return to Him in praise and thanksgiving when that situation changes. No matter how it seems to have been resolved because God is able to orchestrate all things. There is nothing that our God, the creator of all Heaven and earth, is not able to use to accomplish His work. He will work all things for the good of those that believe.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
I once heard a story of a woman in need praying for groceries in her home. Her atheist neighbor happened to overhear her and wanted to disprove the existence of God. He went and bought her groceries placed them on the porch rang the doorbell and hid. When the woman opened the door she began to thank God for hearing her prayer. At that moment the man jumped out and sad “silly woman God didn’t provide those I did.” To which the woman quickly thanked God for using the man in such away. Allowing him to just happen to overhear her prayer and want to meet the need.
That is exactly the way our God loves to work. It may seem like the answer to prayer came by coincidence, the hand of another, or even as if there never was actually a need in the first place. But that is just how our humble God often chooses to do His work. So always give the Lord all the credit He is worthy of for the great things He does. Don’t credit the wrong source but praise Him when you see the very thing you prayed for manifest itself in your life. Just as the one man did when He made sure to go back to thank God for hearing his prayer.
Luke 17:17–19 (ESV)
17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
COVID-19 played out in a way that many did not see coming. It has been less severe than we originally believed it would be. Because of this people have begun to credit so many different sources. While the other nine keep walking the other way I will turn to God and begin to thank Him for hearing my prayer and meeting my need. I will give the Lord all the credit in this situation and every other one in which what I prayed for takes place. No matter how God causes it to happen. I truly hope you will do the same.
Help us change this wrong mindset that is working through the church. Too many people are giving the credit for God’s work to everyone but Him. Help to open the eyes of others to God working their life by sharing this article on your social media. To share simply click one of the social icons below. Thank you for your help and God Bless!
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