IS GOD EVEN LISTENING?

(From Left - Right: Ezekiel Azonwu, Jackie Hill Perry, ME!, Janette...Ikz and Preston Perry at "THE EXCISION" on Saturday, 11th June, 2016)

So, a lot of people have been asking me, 'Who are the people in the picture?". To answer your questions, They are Contemporary Christian Poets (You can Google P4CM for more details).

Today's message is centred on the shirt, I was wearing.
You know, there are days when it seems like praying, Fasting and crying to God does not bring any form of response or Probably, at this moment, you are going through dark times and the constant question in your heart is "God, are you up there at all? Can you see what I am passing through? Won't you come and help out? Are you even listening at all?"

Check this out:
"And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
   And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for." (1 John 5:14-15,NLT)

A man came up to the stage and gave this announcement: "If you want to take a selfie with the poets, you have to buy a shirt or anything relating to them outside at the sales stand."

When the program was over, I headed outside to purchase a shirt. When I got there, the first question I was asked was: "How much do you have?", I asked why the question, the reply was: "All the 1,700 naira shirts are finished, only 3,700 &5,500 naira shirts were available", that was a terrible blow to me because in my hands was just 2,000 naira, where in this place was I supposed to find any additional money.

I went back inside the hall, feeling dejected, but I really wanted a shirt, not even because of the selfie but to show them souvenir at home. "How will I come for a great event like this and go home empty-handed?(NEVER)

I took the nearest seat, looked up to the ceiling and said:
"Lord, I know you are here and I know you are listening. I really want the 3,700 shirt, but I only have 2,000 naira. I don't want to leave this place without a shirt.
Lord, please, I need 1,700 naira extra. I don't know how you are going to do it, You can send someone to give me the money or maybe, someone can just buy it for me.....
Lord, you know I can not go home empty-handed. Please, if you give the money, I will wear the shirt to church tomorrow."

I really believed, I told myself that even if I am already going and almost at the exit gate, God would still get me the shirt, I don't know how.

So, while, I was still hoping, praying and believing, My Neighbour at home saw me from afar and then, walked up to me.
We talked for a while and then, somehow, the conversations drifted to him telling me how he wanted to buy a shirt before but the 1700 naira shirts were finished.

1,700, This must definitely be God's answer to my prayer. I didn't waste time, Kai, kai, I asked him to borrow me the 1,700 and and quickly, I went to buy the shirt...GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYER.
(Trust me, I wore it to church the next day...fulfilling your vows, that's a topic for another day)

God is still in the business of answering prayers. Yes, God is listening to you. Yes, God can see what you are going through and Yes, God cares for you.

  If right now, you have run short of faith and patience in waiting for God concerning an issue, then, I want you to have this word of encouragement from GOD.

He Says:
"This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed." (Habakkuk 2:3, NLT)