Don’T Forget God When Your Prayers Are Answered

When we pray earnestly for something and then receive it, it’s easy to rejoice in the blessing rather than the Blessor. If you’re short on time, here’s the key point: When your prayers are answered, don’t forget to thank God and give Him the glory rather than taking all the credit yourself.

In this article, we’ll explore why it’s important not to forget God when you receive what you prayed for. We’ll look at Biblical examples of those who forgot God after seeing prayers answered and how to have an attitude of gratitude and humility when blessings come.

Remember That Every Good Gift is From God

All Things Were Created By Him

As it says in the Bible, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). This reminds us that everything originates from God – the wonders of nature, the people we love, and even our own skills and talents.

After all, God formed humans from the dust and breathed life into them (Genesis 2:7).

In fact, the Bible teaches that all things were created by God: “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). The earth and everything in it, the stars and galaxies far beyond what we can see, all came about because of Him.

He laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4) and set boundaries for the seas (Proverbs 8:29).

So as we live our lives and pursue our goals, we need to remember that all good things originate from the Lord. Our health, intelligence, relationships, and opportunities are gifts He has given us. Even the ability to work hard towards something is thanks to the way God formed our minds and bodies.

When we recognize this, it fills us with gratitude and helps us give Him the glory.

He Determines Our Lot in Life

God does not just create all things – He is also actively involved on an ongoing basis in determining what happens in the world and in our lives. The Bible says about God, “You determined allotted periods and the boundaries of the places where people should live” (Acts 17:26).

He controls the bigger picture of exactly when and where someone is born and raised.

In addition, Scripture teaches that God oversees the everyday details as well: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29, 31).

He actively sustains sparrows, flowers, and everything else in the natural world, allowing them to live and grow. If He closely watches seemingly insignificant plants and birds, we can know without a doubt that He is also carefully looking after the intimate details of our lives.

None of us fully controls what opportunities we have, what connections we make, or what calamities we face. As the Bible reminds us, there is an appointed time for everything, a time for birth and death, planting and uprooting (Ecclesiastes 3:2).

God is the orchestrator behind all of these events big and small. Recognizing this can help us accept hardships that come our way and be thankful for blessings God bestows. Everything that happens has passed through His hand first and plays a part in His sovereign plan.

Examples of Forgetting God After Blessings Came

The Israelites After God Rescued Them

The Israelites often forgot God and rebelled against Him after He powerfully delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Through Moses, God brought 10 plagues upon Egypt to force Pharaoh to let His people go.

After the final devastating plague, Pharaoh finally relented and allowed the Israelites to leave (Exodus 7-12). However, shortly after their miraculous rescue, the Israelites complained and wished to return to Egypt when faced with hunger and thirst in the wilderness (Exodus 16:1-3).

God graciously provided manna and quail for them to eat and water from a rock. Yet, the Israelites continued to rebel against God and worship idols during their wilderness wanderings (Exodus 32, Numbers 21:4-9).

Despite seeing God’s mighty hand of deliverance from slavery, the Israelites had short memories and repeatedly failed to trust and obey the Lord.

Another example is after the Israelites settled in the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. The book of Judges records how they would follow God during the lifetime of a judge or leader God raised up, but then fall into idol worship and rebellion after that leader died.

This cycle repeated for over 300 years. The Israelites forgot how God powerfully enabled them to conquer Canaan and enjoy the land He had promised to their ancestors. They kept lapse into idolatry and evil practices (Judges 2:10-19).

Despite experiencing God’s faithfulness generation after generation, the Israelites kept forgetting Him.

Hezekiah After Miraculous Healing

King Hezekiah was a righteous king who trusted in the Lord and instituted religious reforms in Judah. However, later in his life Hezekiah became deathly ill. The prophet Isaiah told the king he would not recover from this illness.

Hezekiah prayed and wept before God, who heard his prayers and miraculously healed the king, even causing the sun to go backwards as a sign of this healing. God added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life (2 Kings 20:1-11). One might think Hezekiah would have learned to rely fully on God after this.

Sadly, he began boasting of the power and wealth of his kingdom to visitors from the powerful nation of Babylon. This sinful pride led to Isaiah prophesying that all of Judah’s treasures would one day be carried off to Babylon.

Still, Hezekiah thought this would not happen in his lifetime and did not repent (2 Kings 20:12-19). Despite God’s mercy in healing him, Hezekiah failed to give God glory for his health and power.

Cultivating a Grateful Heart

Thank God First When Prayers Are Answered

When our prayers are answered, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of receiving the blessing. However, the most important thing we can do is stop and thank God first. Taking a moment to express gratitude keeps us humble and reminds us that every good gift comes from above (James 1:17).

Pausing to pray “thank you” helps us cultivate a grateful heart. It’s a simple act that goes a long way in growing our relationship with God.

For example, when I prayed for a new job and got an amazing offer, I immediately thanked God for his provision. Before calling all my family and friends with the good news, I spent time in prayer, praising God for his goodness. When we thank God first, it makes all the difference.

Give Testimony to Others

After we’ve thanked God for answering a prayer, the next step is to tell others about it. When we share how God moved in our lives, it builds faith in those who hear it. Our testimonies remind both ourselves and others that God still does miracles today!

For example, last year my friend Janice was miraculously healed of cancer. She made sure to use that testimony to glorify God, telling our small group and posting about it on social media. As a result, many people were encouraged in their own faith.

Our stories of God’s goodness carry weight because they are real life experiences showing his power.

Use Blessings to Serve God

Finally, when God grants the desires of our heart, we can use those blessings to serve him. Whether he gives us a financial windfall, a new talent, or a restored relationship, we have opportunities to channel those gifts for kingdom purposes. We honor God by stewarding our answered prayers wisely.

For instance, my brother opened a car repair shop after years of waiting for the finances and timing to be right. As soon as his business took off, he began repairing cars for single moms and the elderly for free as a way to give back.

When we allow blessings to flow through us, it brings glory to God.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude is essential when God answers our prayers. By thanking him first, testifying to others, and using our gifts for his glory, we grow closer to him. An attitude of thankfulness changes everything!

Conclusion

When long-awaited answers to prayer finally arrive, it can be challenging to keep the right perspective. But honoring God with praise and gratitude must be central. Staying humble, avoiding pride, and generously sharing our blessings with others will help keep our focus on the glory of the Giver rather than just the gifts themselves.