Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Here Are The 3 Possible Answers To Prayer
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14, NKJV
Yes, No, and Wait! Those are the three possible answers to your prayers, so says conventional wisdom. I have thought a lot about the three-compartment answer‑‑ yes, no, and wait. At the introduction of today's Guidelines, I freely acknowledge that God does not answer all of my prayers the way I would like. Sometimes, in fact, He flatly denies what I have asked for. And I, for one, am quite glad that God does turn down some of my ardent requests, because as I later look back on some of the things I once asked for, I now realize that if God had given me just what I asked for I would have been most unhappy later on.
At times we have asked for things that just were not in our best interest, yet at the time we really believed that what we were seeking was exactly what we needed. We are not alone in doing this. Elijah, the prophet that withstood the 450 prophets of Baal, did the same thing. After his great victory, he was physically and emotionally exhausted. Having learned that Jezebel was out to get him, he just prayed that God would let him die. But meeting his Maker was a request that was not on schedule as far as God's timetable was concerned. Request was denied! Yet God was not indifferent or silent. He simply said, "No!"
At the same time, be very certain that God does answer prayer. Each morning--schedules allowing--my wife and I rise an hour earlier than we normally would and spend that time in quiet prayer. When the alarm goes off, I stagger into the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee, and then while we drink a cup, we talk about things that we want to pray about. Believe me, I would not give up the best hour of sleep unless I was fully persuaded that God hears and answers prayer. We have kept records, and the indication is that although coincidences happen, there is no way that they happen with the frequency we have experienced which we call answered prayer.
"Yes," God does answer some prayers, approving just what I have asked for, but at other times, He simply says, "Not just now!" It is not an out‑and‑out denial; it is merely awaiting His timetable and schedule. But is there another alternative? There is another side to unanswered prayer which, I believe, is telling God what we want--at least, what we think we want or need--then putting the whole matter in His hands for Him to dispose of as He sees fit, fully confident that God knows how to answer our prayers better than we do.
I have found that most of the time God chooses to answer my prayers in a slightly different way than I have in mind. Fortunately, God sees many details which are unknown to me. His perspective is so much better than mine; and because He has the power to change things and people that I do not have, I had better make it clear as to what I have in mind‑‑that is praying in faith‑‑but then allow God to exercise His options as to how He answers my prayer. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him," says the Apostle John, "that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14, NKJV). That is the secret!
When God answers my prayer and does so in His way, which is far better than my way, the answer may contain one or even more of these three elements: Yes, No, and Wait my timing, but in the end our needs are far better met by awaiting His timing. George MacDonald, the man who greatly influenced C. S. Lewis, wrote, "Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does not want the best; God finds it hard to give, because He would give the best and man will not take it." Remember, God has a better plan.
Resource reading: 1 John 5:1-21
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/here-are-the-3-possible-answers-to-prayer/
The comeback of ABS-CBN: Retrenched employees return to work
With a vote of 70-11, ABS-CBN went off the air last July 10 after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises denied the 25-year franchise application of the network.
Almost 11,000 people were working at the network then. As a result of its inability to go on-air, ABS-CBN had no choice but to retrench most of its employees.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as ABS-CBN was able to sign a blocktime deal with ZOE Broadcasting Network to be able to broadcast some of their programs. Adding to that, they also explored the digital platform. This means that the network is slowly getting back at its feet.
With this slow but sure progress of ABS-CBN, some retrenched employees have expressed their gratefulness to the network as they were called to return.
Jon Montesa, who was among those who were laid off during the period where the Kapamilya network couldn’t operate shared the news that he is now returning to ABS-CBN which he considered his ‘home’.
In his tweet using #BabalikDinAngABSCBN, he posted a screenshot with a caption saying that God reminded him that He’s more powerful than the 70 congressmen. The second screenshot was him informing his mother that he’ll be returning to ABS-CBN.
During the month of August, the network began its retrenchment program and Montesa was among those who were included. Luckily for him, through the advancement of technology, ABS-CBN decided to switch to the digital platform which in turn gave them the chance to broadcast their programs.
Adding to the good fortune that the Kapamilya network is receiving and continuing to receive, they also had a contract with ZOE Network which allowed them to broadcast some of their programs on free TV. And as a result of this fortuitous event, Montesa received the wonderful news of returning to the Kapamilya network to work.
Adding to the wonderful news that Montesa shared, he also spilled some information regarding the project that he’ll be working which is a film under the Star Cinema titled “Princess (Daya)reese” starring Maymay Entrata and Edward Barber.