I had a moment of grace today. A young man in my parish told me a story of how he got his property. It happened that he had spotted the said property in an advantageous place for business. He immediately knew that he had to get it for the project he wanted to undertake.
At the time he was making plans and negotiations towards buying it, he heard that one popular millionaire had also shown interest in the same property. What made it difficult was that the man had cash, ready to pay for the property. And at the time, he had nothing.
But he said he never lost hope: “I would go to the place and pray, take pictures and told myself ‘this is for me”. He began pointing the place out to people that he would site his business there. That was not all, he would also go there and pray.
We must take note that, his negotiations was temporarily halted because of the presence of the richer man. Given the current state of affairs, he intensified his prayer and always told himself “where ever the sole of your feet would touch, I will give to you”. He said some how he believed that that place was for him and the lord shall deliver it unto him.
Unexpectedly a fortnight later the owner of the property called him and asked him to bring whatever amount he had as a down payment for the property. When he had paid he quickly began to develop the place. The other interested buyer came one time to contend with him over the ownership of place. The man couldn’t believe it when he told him he owned the place.
Indeed this is what a life ruled by faith looks like. May the lord begin to deliver to you what your faith determines. The word of God is true “whatever you ask in my name, believe and it shall be granted to you” it is unbelievable. With grace you are settled.
Money can buy you some level of influence but faith certainly opens doors of impossibilities. Faith shuts the mouth of the naysayers and all they can do is to look on while you succeed.
Could it be that the reason why we do not receive answers to our prayers most of the time is because we do not do so with enough faith even if there is at all? Well, here is what Jesus has to say about that; “…whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24)
Could it be that unlike this young man our faith and prayers sometimes are disengaged from the effort and hard work needed to make us realize our dreams?
Could it be that we exercise our faith on the principle of trial and error? Listen to what the Bible says about faith “now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)
Go out and live the life you have prayed for. For faith takes a positive step.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
