Bible in One Year: Sunday, December 27, 2009 (Is 34 - Is 36) Memorise: "But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased" (Ps 115:3) Read: Proverbs 22:24-25 24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. When we look at the story of Naaman, we can identify certain things that almost robbed him of his long awaited miracle. In 2 Kings 5:11-12, we see pride standing between him and his miracle. If you really want a miracle, then you must forget who you are or what you have accomplished. Proverbs 15:25 says God does not help a proud fellow to build his or her house, except to destroy it. If you have an exaggerated view of yourself or of your importance, it will stand in your way to your miracle. Another hindrance to miracles is anger. Usually, anger is a product of pride. Anger is born when pride is wounded. A nobody is not easily offended. Ecclesiastes 7:9 says it is only a fool that allows anger to reside in him or her. If you have a violent temper, check to see where pride is hidden within you. An individual who claims to be humble or meek but flares up so easily is indeed a proud fellow. Anger does not work for you but against you. Discard it and ask God for grace to be humble. In humility is great strength. Yet another hindrance to miracles is having a preconceived idea of how it will come. Naaman had already concluded how he would get his miracle. He had forgotten that the miracle was coming from God, not him. According to Psalm 115:3, God does as He pleases. Assessing prayer requests received, I observe that people do not stop at making a request, but also dictating to God how He should grant it. Sometimes, when God answers their request using another method, they become disappointed. In most cases, it is as a result of pride. God does not answer your request to fatten your pride or ego but to take the glory. If you are trusting God for a car, there are many ways God can grant the request. He can touch your organization and they will see the need and give you a car. He might provide you with the money to buy one. He could touch somebody close to you or a member of your church to bless you with a car, etc. What is important is that the car is provided. How God provides it should be left to Him. A pastor got involved in a business and desired to buy a car from the profit. That year, they could not make profit yet God asked a brother to give him his car. The need was met in another way, but because some members of his church looked down on him that he could not afford to buy a car until one was given to him, he started wishing he had bought it. Never yield to negative pressures. Allow God to have His way! ACTION POINT: Father, have your way in my life. I believe Your way and timing for answers to my requests are in my best interest.