Be careful of your prayers.

There is a scripture in Proverbs about how there is life and death in the tongue. There is so much depth to that. For the sake of time, and attention span, I'm only going to talk about your prayer life. I saw be careful what you pray for because sometimes your prayers are answered, YEARS later and in unexpected ways.

I was in Teen Mania's Honor Academy at the age of 19 and God asked me what I wanted. So I started pouring my little heart out. I said I wanted to be married by the time I turned 23 and my kids by the time I was 30. I was 19, I didn't know what in the world I was talking about. I knew what I wanted though and I let God know, IN GREAT DETAIL.

Fast forward a few years, I'm 22. Engaged. And get married a little over a month before my 23 birthday. After 5 years of trying to have kids, we have Joseph. We prayed to plant an Elevation Church e-group in Harrisonburg. Now were in ministry with New Life Baptist Church in New Hope and couldn't be more thrilled about the way things worked out.

God has this time table that doesn't always fit ours. Sometimes it does. I just wish I had known how powerful my prayers were at the age of 19. Just because you don't get an answer right away, doesn't mean God isn't working on it. Sometimes it can take years. 5 to 10. And maybe it isn't answered the way you want it. Just because it seems to fall on deaf ears, it doesn't. There's a flip side to this. Don't be ignorant in your prayers.

Don't pray for a million dollars if you don't expect to work for it. Sometimes you have to really work to accomplish the level you are praying for. I'm not saying miracles don't happen. Don't get me wrong. But if you are going to ask for a spouse, make sure you realize what marriage includes. There is an overwhelming of give and take. There is sacrifice. It's dedication to a process. You grow together. You fail together. You win some, and you loose some. It's NOT a walk in the park. Be wise in your prayer life. Be honest in your prayer life. Understand that your prayers ARE heard. BE PATIENT! And above all..... ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS pray. All day long. When you wake up to pee. All the time.

God desires to talk to you.