God Prints
When Liz decides to open a detective agency, he, Lucille, and Morrie investigate a series of “coincidences” and come to a surprising discovery.
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: God’s Work in Our Lives
1. In Jeremiah 29:13, God says we should seek him with our hearts. What does that mean? Why is it important that we seek him with our hearts?
2. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, the apostle Paul discovered that God doesn’t always give us what we ask for, but he does always give us what we need. Paul had what he called his “thorn in the flesh.” It might have been a physical condition that wouldn’t go away (some people believe it was bad eyesight), or it might have been a mental or spiritual struggle. Imagine having a thorn in your foot that you couldn’t remove—that will give you an idea of what Paul was dealing with. He asked God to remove this “thorn,” but God didn’t do that. Instead, he told Paul that he would give him the power to live with it and to be a better witness for Jesus Christ. Paul realized, even through his pain, that God was with him and helping him every moment. As you listen to this episode, think about how God answers your prayers by giving you what you need, even if it isn’t what you asked for.
After you listen
Quiz
Reflect
In this episode, Liz and his friends discovered some of the ways God was involved in their lives.
Some people think that God is up in heaven just waiting to give them anything they ask for, like a heavenly vending machine. But God knows what’s best for us, and he has promised to give us everything we need. When we truly trust him, we only want what he wants. That’s called praying for God’s will. The Bible says we can pray about anything (Philippians 4:6). But we should always end our prayers the way Jesus did when he prayed to his Father in heaven. He said, “not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Then we should watch carefully to see how God accomplishes his will in our lives. And when we see things that we know are his will, we should thank him for answering our prayers.
Want to dig deeper and learn about praying for God’s will? Read Matthew 6:9-10, Colossians 1:9, and 1 John 5:14.
Challenge
Think about some of the things you’ve prayed about recently. What was more important to you: that you got what you asked for, or that God was able to work through you to accomplish something good? Get a piece of paper and some crayons or colored pencils, and write out Jesus’ words, “Not as I will, but as you will.” Hang the paper on your wall by your bed to help you remember to always end your prayers that way. Then watch to see how God gives you what you need, and make sure you thank him!
