Praying For FaithSample

DAY ONE: Producing Godly Character

Our society is obsessed with instant gratification. Americans find themselves in debt because they need to have the latest iPhone, television, car, or house by getting loans and credit cards to pay for them. No one wants to save the money to buy that special product—so companies make it possible to gain credit so you can have that product now. College kids get their degrees and want a top-paying job at the top of the executive chain rather than working their way up over time in a company.

No matter where we look or what we do, instant gratification is the god of the age. And because of this, we find a generation that is immature, rebellious, and feeling entitled to just about everything— without working hard to gain what they need or want.

But that’s not the way the kingdom of God works. Instant gratification is not in God’s dictionary because it does not produce faith and trust in Him. In fact, it doesn’t produce anything of spiritual worth, nor does it produce godly character.

As believers, we tend to expect instant gratification from the Lord. We pray a handful of times and are distraught if our prayer has not been answered. We might be walking a difficult path in our lives and get frustrated when the Lord does not smooth it out quickly. 

His ways are not our ways, the prophet Isaiah said. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He will answer our prayer, but it’s in His perfect timing and in His perfect way.

Waiting is not easy. But God tells us to be persistent in our prayers, believing that He will indeed answer at just the right time.