I have a jar I painted at a pottery place. A prayer jar. I know there’s lots of people who have them in their home. I guess it is popular for believers. On my prayer jar I wrote “place it, leave it, rest in his hands.” The idea behind the jar was that when I would have a prayer request, I would write it and put it in the jar. I would do what the scripture says pray and not be anxious but bring my request to God. This was a jar for unanswered prayers or prayers that I was making to God. My thought this morning though is where do the answered prayers go? I had not accounted for that. Thinking about it now though I think I should consider it.

When you read of the nation of Isreal in scripture you find they often remembered and recounted all that God did. They testified and celebrated the blessings of God through various festivals and holy days. Why should we not do the same? Let me explain. 

I should have made two jars. One for the prayers that I’m still praying and one for answered prayers. On the answered prayer jar I would write testimonies, praises, and share moments of God’s faithfulness. I don’t just want to come to God to ask for things I require.  I want to come to him and praise for all that he has done. To bring to mind and remember his faithfulness to me and know that just as he has moved before, he can and will move again.

Perhaps for you it is not 2 jars. Maybe you put up prayers in your prayer closet on the wall. Do you have a wall of praise reports and answer prayers? Just like in the movie war room where her wall out in the open for everyone to see. We need to know that we can come with our needs and our requests to the Lord, yet we also know just as confidently that God deserves to be glorified and praised for what he has done. For all that he has done before, all of the answered prayers, all of the faithfulness to us and generations before us. We should remember him.

The truth is only when we grab a hold of his faithfulness, only then do we really trust enough to truly place and leave our needs in his hands. We learn to not be anxious for anything because of our confidence due to God’s faithfulness. The knowledge of his sovereignty and provision is the peace that guards our hearts and our minds. The knowledge that we are blessed beyond the curse for his promises endure is sustaining. The knowledge that He holds us steady in every situation shows us we can trust and rest when we place ourselves and our lives in his hands. We have literally proved God over and over through the challenges we faced, so it is time to enjoy the sweetness of trusting in him.

My challenge for you today is simple really. Whether you have jars or walls or lists or journals, however you want to record it, count your blessings and remember the answered prayers. Praise for all that has been met and done in in your life and the lives of those around you.  Hope and believe for all that he has yet to do in your life. Praise him because we can have confidence. Confidence that God is faithful, and he will be forever. Rest in the knowledge and the truth that God has you. Celebrate the victories even when you can’t see them yet.  Live confident in God’s provision and care of you and let that fuel everything in your life! Because he lives, I can face tomorrow! So go ahead mark the prayer as you pray and celebrate the answers that have been given. You’ll find unending reasons to praise God because he has done so many things and there is so much more he has yet to do!