When you pray, do you EXPECT God to deliver you? When you say the words “Deliver us from evil” (for yourself or for others) do you ANTICIPATE HIS RESCUE from sin or depression or confusion? Paul did. Even in prison, he was confident that his own prayers and those of others would cause God to act in His behalf. “In this I rejoice, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers”. Sometimes, God leaves the problem in place and supplies strength to face it. This is deliverance too. He “spreads a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. (Psalm 23) The problems stay but God invites us to come and sit and eat and rest and find strength for a battle that needs to be fought. When you pray, do you expect God to come to your rescue?
