Today, I tried something new. I couldn’t find my work badge, so I looked for it all over the place and then had the brilliant idea to pray about it. You would have thought that by now I’d start with praying then looking, but I can be spiritually dense sometimes.

But this time, instead of panic-praying for God to help me find it, I felt led to pray thanking God in advance for helping me find it. I remembered a verse that talks about if you pray in faith without doubting, you will receive.

I am in no way advocating for a name it, claim it kind of theology. I don’t for a second believe that if I ask for a Corvette in faith believing I have already received it that I will get it. Besides, I’m more of an old-school Jeep guy. But the point is that God is not obligated to cater to my selfish desires if I use all the right magic words.

But in this case, I went back to my car that I had already searched more than once. I pulled back the passenger seat. There it was. After praying with thanksgiving, I found it. In that moment, my faith was strengthened and I thanked God again for His faithfulness.

Again, I’m not promoting a formula for instant prayer success. I believe that you and I should pay special attention to the Holy Spirit whenever He prompts us in our praying. Listen and notice those little nudges. Don’t rush into your petitions without taking time to thank God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do. And above all, leave margins in your prayer time for God to speak.