time for change

Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 21 - "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
In John 11 Martha cries to Jesus "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." and we all know what happens to her deceased brother.
Again, with his closest ones in John 14 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

I've heard and read these passages dozens of times over the course my 40 years and while I believed them every time because it's God's Word - I don't know that ever really believed it to be true for ME.

I can identify a time in my life when I let skepticism win out - bothered by people in my life years ago who entered into what seemed to me a dangerous game called "Name it and Claim it" - bothered because I can't imagine it doesn't seem rude to God when we try direct our lives and those of the people around us according to our own wishes - we do that often enough with out realizing it - but to speak it in words that seem to take the form of commanding God?? I just couldn't stomach it for very long and I left all forms of it pretty far behind me a long time ago.

A few weeks ago, at a women's retreat, my friend Sherilyn made the comment that her son always amazed her because from the time he was little he always prayed in a way that made it evident - he expected God to come through. I had a feeling of both sadness and YUCK that I had forgotten that we are supposed to pray expectantly and a feeling of excitement to revive that part of my prayer life. All of this unfolded as my brother-in-law was in a life-threatening medical condition in the hospital. Things were really bad. I confided in my friend Kim that God had spoken to me about praying expectantly and shared that I wanted to start applying that to my prayers for Randy. The Lord has chosen to blow me away as we've watched miraculous recovery. No more respirator, no more kidney failure, he's awake and alert moving towards health after some very dire reports from doctors.

Answered prayer is an amazing feeling! I mean - prayers bigger than for a convenient parking spot!! This is huge. My faith is bolstered. I know that, ultimately, answered prayer is about bringing glory to the Father - at the same time the process changes me! It's about time for change!
"Oh the Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy!" - Psalm 126:3