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| Laura V. Hilton |
Last month, I wrote about my prayer life as a child and how prayer seemed rote and boring. Then I attended a church where the pastor prayed as if he believed there would be an answer. He believed in the power of prayer and God answered his prayers.I wanted a relationship with God like that. I wanted to pray and know that God listened. And I know He does. But sometimes, it seems as though God doesn’t hear. I see it on my weekly prayer meeting post on my Facebook page. The same requests. Week after week. Month after month. I post the same ones too. Because God has answered that prayer request with a “no” or a “wait.” I’m not sure which. So I keep asking. And asking. And asking.
One of the churches that I attended many years ago said that we only need to ask God once. Any more than that shows lack of faith. God heard the request. He knows. Don’t keep bothering Him. And yes, I suppose that is true. He did hear. He does know. But maybe He wants us to approach Him like children. Persistent children. And keep asking. And asking. Several stories in the Bible show how requests are granted due to persistence.
When we bring our requests to God, we honor Him. We reveal the desires of our hearts, and we admit that only He can meet them. Often, our repeated requests relate to other people. In those instances their hearts must be changed in order for our request to be granted.
We know God is good and He desires to give us good gifts (Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:13). We can continue to seek Him through prayer and to make our requests known to Him (Philippians 4:6). But we must be willing to submit to God's will. We know that whatever we ask in His will is granted (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes we don’t understand His will or His timing. Sometimes we must be willing to wait for God's yes. Other times we have to accept no for an answer. When we know God and trust Him, we can repeatedly bring Him the same request and rest in the fact that His answer will be best for us. God desires both our persistence and our submission.
I appreciate the prayers for my ongoing prayer request and enjoy being able to bring other requests for my Facebook friends and acquaintances before God. It’s a pleasure to see how God answers prayers. And I don’t want to sin against God by ceasing to pray for you.
Thank you for your continued prayers for me and my family. If you have any requests, please feel free to let us know what they are so that we can pray for you.
Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers. Amen.
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| About the Author |
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.
See below for information on Laura's latest, The Amish Firefighter. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.
Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or@Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/
Amish Firefighter
by Laura V. Hilton
A Beautiful Young Woman Banished from Home
Abigail Stutzman thought it was bad enough being dropped at the nearest bus station and sent to live several states away with some relatives she'd never heard about, much less met. But now, just a week after her arrival in Jamesport, Missouri, she finds herself at the scene of a barn fire. An intentional barn fire. And all fingers are pointed at her. She's desperate to prove her innocence and protect her reputation, but nobody's making that easy to do. And God certainly doesn't seem willing to help.
A Brave Firefighter with an Agenda of His Own
Sam Miller is in the process of turning over a new leaf. Determined to atone for the follies of his past, he is a volunteer firefighter, an EMT, and a doctor-in-training. When local barn fires escalate, everyone suspects arson. And since the Miller family are among the victims, no one is more determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice than Sam.
A Kindled Flame Neither One Could Have Anticipated
When their paths first cross, at the site of a barn burning, the emotional intensity rivals the warmth of the flames. Soon, they must decide whether this fire is one they should feed or extinguish. And they'll discover that the truth can prove more dangerous than a blazing inferno.
