Inspiration

A few months ago, I talked to a high school student out in the lobby after service. He's a star basketball player; a big, tall, young man. His dream is to play Division 1 basketball in college. However, the only scholarships he was offered were to Division 2 schools. He was grateful. He had a great attitude about it, but he seemed torn. He asked me if he should decline the Division 2 scholarships and not settle for less than what he knew was in his heart; or, should he take the scholarship, and hopefully, one day transfer to a Division 1 school? I wasn't sure how to advise him. So I said, "Let me pray for you." I prayed that God would give him wisdom and open the right doors, and that God would make the path easy for him to choose. He thanked me and walked away. About ten minutes later, as I was finishing up with the other visitors, he came back and his eyes were as wide as saucers. He said, "You're not going to believe what happened. Right when I walked away, I got a call on my cell phone. I didn't recognize the number. But when I answered it, it was a Division 1 head coach asking me to come play for him."

It happened so fast his head was swimming! He didn't know what to say. He said, "Joel, I just want to thank you for praying for me." I jokingly said, "Well, that's the way my prayers are always answered!" The truth is, I said, "Don't thank me. Thank God!" That's the God of acceleration. That's God speeding things up.

I believe this year, like with this young man, you're going to see some quick works, some unusual things, some accelerated prayers. Suddenly, things are going to fall into place. You're going to look up and say, "I didn't see it happening that fast. I didn't know I'd get well this quickly. I didn't know the problem would turn around that suddenly." God wants to do some things that make our heads swim! Keep praying, keep believing, keep hoping and keep surrendering to God because He is ready to accelerate your prayers!