Have you ever thought about why your prayers may seem to go unanswered? Of course! There can be several reasons why prayers are delayed or hindered. Sometimes, God may choose to answer your prayer miraculously in which case His response to you is instant, no delay, no waiting, no questions wondering if it was from God or not…you know perfectly well it was God’s direct doing! Bam—the miraculous takes place and only God could have performed the impossible.

But what if God chooses to use you to be a part of another’s answered prayer? This can take time because often, God’s children are just not paying attention to the leading of His Holy Spirit. Let me explain, a believer’s spirit must be in tune to God’s Spirit—to His leading, to His prompting! Have you ever felt God’s nudging for you to give someone a monetary blessing? Or, you sense you should stop and pray with someone? Or, maybe it’s lending a helping hand to a friend and you ignore it? You may cause another’s needs to be delayed until your heart is moved into action!

Next time this occurs, acknowledge that you, in Christ’s spirit, need to exercise the senses and listen to the Holy Spirit who calls you to answer another’s prayer. How simple is that. I challenge you to pray, God use me. Make me like little Samuel who said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (I Samuel 3:10-12).