How to Steward an Answered Prayer
Practical Steps to Steward Answered Prayers
Last week, I shared about how my dog begs me for walks without realizing how hot it is outside and how miserable she will if I actually take her on one. It reminds me of my own prayer life and how often I ask God for something that might not actually be something I’m prepared to steward.
(You can read that post here!)
Sometimes, I think God protects us by not answering those prayers and the silence can feel brutal. Other times, I think He gives us exactly what we ask for and with it comes an opportunity to steward an answered prayer.
When God answers your prayer here are three practical steps to steward his answer well:
Be willing to take action
In the story I shared about my dog I shared about how when she realized what a few miles in the middle of the day in the summer in Tennessee would entail, she didn’t seem to really want it anymore.
Part of good stewardship is being willing to endure, persevere, and emulate the steadfast character of God when an answered prayer requires more of us than we initially thought. When we are praying for something we desire and asking God for it, we should be ready and willing to take action and follow through on what it requires of us when it comes even if it doesn’t look how we thought it would.
In the Amplified Bible 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].”
When God answers, be prepared for it to require action on your end that could mean hard work, endurance, and pursuing excellence.
Express your gratitude
Sometimes, we are so focused on persevering in prayer and asking God to move in our lives and communities that when He does, we continue on in prayer with asking for he next thing.
But God blesses us with answered prayers out of a relationship with Him. The blessing itself isn’t the most important thing—it’s about what the blessing reveals to us about the One who gave it to us.
Throughout the Psalms we can read Psalms of thanksgiving and they are a good reminder to stop and thank God for the specific details of how He has moved in our lives, especially when He answers prayer.
Psalm 20:6 says, “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.”
A specific prayer was answered and when it was this prayer was prayed in gratitude. When God answers a prayer, thank Him.
Be prepared to share the results
In a culture that’s increasingly focuses on self, God calls us to be focused on His Kingdom. When God answers a prayer, even a very personal one, be prepared to share the results.
If God personally showed up for you or your family in a specific way by answering your prayer be prepared to share about it. Tell the story to people in your life who might be waiting on an answer or in need of a miracle. Your testimony could be the extra push someone needs to “be persistent and devoted to prayer” (Colossians 4:2).
When God gives to you generously in some tangible way, be prepared to share your “harvest.” God gives us incredibly good gifts but they are not just for us to store up in our individual homes or hearts and guard as if they’re ours.
Instead, He expects us to share all that we have been given as a steward. Stewardship means we believe that everything we have is God’s. We are not borrowing it, we don’t have it on loan, we are expected to hold everything openly knowing it belongs to God and it’s our responsibility to honor Him with it.
When God gives you a business idea, it’s not just for you. That should make you even more eager to steward your idea with excellence. What if someone in need of a job is waiting on you?
Share about your answered prayers to glorify God and inspire others, and share the results of your answered prayers with your community. When you take action, thank God, and share His goodness and His blessings with others you can be confident you are stewarding an answered prayer well.
