GOD IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES FOR YOU

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

JANUARY 21, 2022        

TOPIC: GOD IS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES FOR YOU

BY T. O. BANSO

“So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant,  ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ So he went up and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And seven times he said, ‘Go again.’ Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said,  ‘There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!’ So he said, ‘Go up, say to Ahab,’ Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you’” (1 Kings 18:42-44 New King  James Version).

The Bible tells us that there are hindrances to prayer. These include unforgiveness, sinful lifestyle, unbelief or lack of faith, asking contrary to the will of God, demonic opposition, and not being specific. These could deny or delay one’s answer to prayer.

However, there are times when none of the hindrances are responsible for the seeming delay in receiving an answer to prayer. Indeed, Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8 New King James Version). And other scriptures assure that  God will answer the prayer of His children

However, the reality is that many times, the answers don’t come as soon as God’s children expect. You could be in such a situation now. And if not, you may soon be! It isn’t that God won’t answer your prayers that are in agreement with His will, but there is always a time lag between when you pray and when the answer comes.

Someone may say, “Yes, I know that. I don’t expect that the answer will come immediately.” But what you may not know is that it may come later than you think. The answer to your prayer may take a longer time than you’re even prepared for. This will stretch your faith and patience.

Even though it is God’s will to give you what you’ve asked for and He could give you the next second after, He rarely does that. Unfortunately, this makes some people give up. A few go to help themselves by taking the devil’s alternatives which later lead to regret.

If what you have requested from God in prayer is in His will for you or He has even assured you by revelation or in His Word to give you something, wait for it. Wait for God. Don’t go forward without Him. He knows what He is doing. He knows why He is keeping you waiting and has not allowed the answer to come.

The psalmist says, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope” (Psalm 130:5 New King James Version). Also, the prophet Isaiah says, “And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; and I will hope in Him” (Isaiah 8:17 New King James Version). Wait for the Lord; don’t be in haste. Whoever believes will not act hastily (Isaiah 28:16).

I’m not talking about demonic delay, which will require you to intensify prayer so that your expectation will not be disappointed or you will not wait longer than God wants you to. If the Holy Spirit has told you your case is that of demonic delay, intensify prayer against the powers behind the delay and the Lord will give you victory.

I cannot overstate that if you’ve prayed according to God’s will, God will grant your request. The apostle John says,  “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15 New King James Version). But you may sometimes have to wait for some time. God, in His sovereignty, considers other things before He releases the answer to our prayer.

It is not because He is handicapped or limited. But He makes all things beautiful in His or its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). When you think God has not heard your prayers or is doing nothing about your requests, He is actually working behind the scenes. In other words, He is working unknown to the public.  Isaiah 45:15 says, “Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior!” (New King James Version).  “Clearly, you are a God who works behind the scenes, God of Israel, Savior God” (The Message paraphrase).

God could be working on you to get you ready for the answer to your prayer and/or He could be working on other persons that have to do with the answer to your prayer. He could also be working on creating the right environment. When God is through with working behind the scenes and He considers that the time is ripe, your answer will manifest.

Hebrews 6:12 says you should not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. You need faith and patience while God is working behind the scenes on your matter. Don’t feel He has turned a deaf ear to your prayers. He is at work. Don’t give up on Him. You will soon share your testimony of answered prayer.

In 1 Kings 18, when the prophet Elijah was praying to God for the rain to fall, he didn’t send rain immediately. But God was working behind the scenes. “So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant,  ‘Go up now, look toward the sea.’ So he went up and looked, and said, ‘There is nothing.’ And seven times he said, ‘Go again.’ Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said,  ‘There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!’ So he said, ‘Go up, say to Ahab,’ Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you’” (1 Kings 18:42-44 New King  James Version).

Ahab went up to eat and drink.  He didn’t know the details of how the rain began to fall except that Elijah told him it would soon rain. He didn’t know that Elijah sent his servant seven times to look towards the sea for any sign of rain. But while Elijah was praying God was working behind the scenes.

When his servant came back the seventh time to report that he saw a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea, Elijah knew that answer to his prayer would soon manifest. God is working behind the scenes on your matter too. The answer o your prayer will soon manifest.

In Exodus 2:23-24, the Bible says the children of Israel groaned because of their bondage in Egypt and cried out to God who heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with Abraham,  Isaac, and Jacob. Verse 25 adds that God looked upon the children of Israel and acknowledged them.

You would think that God would intervene and set them free immediately. He didn’t. Rather He worked behind the scenes to deliver them. They had no proof that God had heard their groaning. Even if they had, they had no idea what He would do or how they would be delivered.

If you read Exodus 3, you will see what God did, unknown to the Israelites, working behind the scenes to deliver them. He called Moses in the land of Midian, a man who had fled Egypt forty years earlier.

When the LORD appeared to him at the burning bush, He told him. “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:7-10 New King James Version).

While the Israelites must be wondering when they would be free from the Egyptians oppression, He was working behind the scenes for their deliverance and, at the right time, He sent  Moses to return to Egypt and deliver them after living 430 years in Egypt (Exodus 12:40).

God is working behind the scenes on your promotion, business, ministry, court case, pregnancy, marriage, healing, academics, and so. God is preparing you for what He has already prepared. He is preparing other persons that are connected with it. Hold on to your faith in God. The answer to your prayer will not be delayed. “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow,^[  do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 The Living Bible).

Wait! Don’t be anxious. Anxiety or worry cannot change anything (Luke 12:25-26). Remember that Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (New King James Version).

What is the difficulty you are currently going through? You may not see God, hear Him, or feel Him, but He is working behind the scenes. His unseen hand is at work for you. Keep hearing the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).  Keep confessing it. Keep praying and thanking God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.

You will soon sing a new song. The Lord will do a new thing for you; it shall spring forth and you shall you know it (Isaiah 43:19).

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You because You have heard my prayer, You’re working behind the scenes, and my answer will soon manifest. Holy Spirit, help me to wait and not be anxious. I shall, through faith and patience, inherit the promises of God for my life. No power of the devil shall delay my miracle. God’s answer to my prayer shall come in due season. I shall soon testify about the new thing God has done for me and sing a new song in Jesus’ name.

(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org