PRAYER, ANSWERS TO

Two Christian men lived near each other. The first was a farmer. Since there had not been any rain for several weeks, the farmer got up one morning and prayed for rain, but there was no rain that day.

His next-door neighbor was also up early, but he was praying that it would not rain, because he was taking an unsaved friend fishing that morning. There was no rain that day.

God hears both requests, but he can’t answer both. He will do that which glorifies him the most.1016

I asked for strength that I might achieve;

He made me weak that I might obey.

I asked for health that I might do great things;

He gave me grace that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

He gave me poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;

He gave me weakness that I might feel a need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

He gave me life that I might enjoy all things.

I received nothing I had asked for;

He gave me all that I had hoped for.1017

Shortly after Dallas Seminary was founded in 1924, it came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning, the founders of the school met in the president’s office to pray that God would provide. In that prayer meeting was Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he prayed in his characteristically refreshing manner: “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.”

While they were praying, a tall Texan came into the business office and said, “I just sold two carloads of cattle in Fort Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal go through and it won’t work, and I feel that God is compelling me to give this money to the Seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check.”

A secretary took the check and, knowing something of the financial seriousness of the hour, went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. When she finally got a response, Dr. Lewis Chafer took the check out of her hand, and it was for the exact amount of the debt. When he looked at the signature, he recognized the name of the cattle rancher. Turning to Dr. Ironside, he said, “Harry, God sold the cattle!”1018