In recent years, many big amusement theme parks have introduced a perk for some visitors. They call it “Express Pass” or “FastPass,” and those customers who are willing to pay the extra fee bypass the long lines for the most popular rides. For many, it’s worth it to avoid the wait and squeeze more thrills and excitement into their visit.
It’s easy to see the benefit of a “no wait” option. But did you know that some prayers offer immediate results—with no additional cost? I can think of three prayers that God answers instantly.
1) Forgive me.
Author F. B. Meyer wrote, “God does sometimes keep us waiting for an answer to other prayers, but He never keeps us waiting one single second for an answer to our prayer for forgiveness.” It may take time for us to believe and own our forgiveness, but the promise of God is that “he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).
2) Take my life.
Another prayer that God delights in answering immediately is the prayer of surrender and consecration. When we sincerely pray, like the hymnwriter, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee,” we receive a speedy answer from the One who promised, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37 NIV). Like the prayer for forgiveness, it may take us time to believe that the Lord has done in us what He promised to us, but we can trust that the answer comes without delay.
3) Be glorified.
On the first Palm Sunday, after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus prayed aloud, “‘Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him” (John 12:28-29 NIV). The answer took apparently no time at all. Similarly, when we prayerfully invite God’s glory, He will immediately set His answer in motion.
Perhaps you’ve prayed these prayers. If so, you’ve experienced the power of “no-wait praying.” If not, why wait? Try them today.
