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◄ Love to God: Produced by Answers to Prayer►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of love for God, as cultivated and deepened through the experience of answered prayer, is a profound theme within the Christian faith. This love is not merely an emotional response but a deep-seated devotion that grows as believers witness God's faithfulness and responsiveness to their petitions.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible provides numerous examples where answered prayers lead to an increased love and devotion to God. In the Old Testament, the account of Hannah is a poignant illustration. Hannah, in her deep distress, prayed earnestly for a child, and God answered her prayer by granting her a son, Samuel. Her response was one of profound gratitude and love, as she dedicated Samuel to the Lord's service (1 Samuel 1:27-28): "I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD."

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently speaks of prayer and its impact on the believer's relationship with God. InPhilippians 4:6-7 , Paul encourages believers to present their requests to God with thanksgiving, promising that the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This peace, a result of answered prayer, fosters a deeper love and trust in God.

Experiential Growth in Love

The experience of answered prayer serves as a tangible demonstration of God's presence and care in the life of a believer. As prayers are answered, believers often find their faith strengthened and their love for God deepened. This is because answered prayers serve as personal testimonies of God's faithfulness and His intimate involvement in the lives of His people.

The Psalms frequently reflect this dynamic. InPsalm 116:1-2 , the psalmist expresses love for God as a direct result of answered prayer: "I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live." The psalmist's love is a response to the personal experience of God's attentive care and intervention.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the love for God that is produced by answered prayer underscores the relational nature of the Christian faith. God is not a distant deity but a personal and loving Father who desires to engage with His children. This relationship is reciprocal; as God answers prayers, believers are drawn into a deeper love and commitment to Him.

Moreover, the experience of answered prayer can lead to a greater understanding of God's character. As believers witness God's faithfulness, wisdom, and timing in answering prayers, they grow in their appreciation and love for His divine attributes. This growth in love is not only emotional but also intellectual and spiritual, as believers come to know God more fully.

Practical Outworking

In practical terms, the love for God that is nurtured through answered prayer manifests in various ways. It often results in increased devotion, worship, and service. Believers who experience God's answers to their prayers are often more motivated to live lives that honor Him, reflecting their love through obedience and commitment to His will.

Furthermore, this love can lead to a more robust prayer life. As believers experience the joy and assurance of answered prayer, they are encouraged to pray more fervently and consistently, trusting in God's continued faithfulness. This cycle of prayer, answer, and increased love becomes a vital aspect of the believer's spiritual journey.

In summary, love for God, as produced by answered prayer, is a dynamic and transformative aspect of the Christian life. It is rooted in the biblical witness, experienced personally by believers, and results in a deeper, more committed relationship with God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 116:1
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... as the peace ofGod, is notproduced byprayer alone... it is the experience of many
wholove secret devotion... of Jerusalem; believe in the LORD yourGod, so shall...

Prayer and Obedience
... Itproduced in him a ready mind to embrace... Here inward fidelity andlove, together
with outward cleanness... Seeing that the keeping ofGod's commandments is here...

Answers toPrayer
... so insensible that the strongest ammoniaproduced no sensation... to kiss me, giving
and receiving real heart-love. We knowGod only lends these little treasures...

A Description of Contemplation, and of the First Difference that...
... is named Meditation until it hasproduced the honey...God, but having gathered it we
contemplateGod, and are... obtained makes us contemplate; for bylove we find...

The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus
...Produced by Elizabeth T. Knuth Table of Contents.... Why Men Do Not Attain Quickly to
the PerfectLove ofGod.... Great Fruits Thereof When They Come fromGod....

Questions andAnswers
... and perhaps have already overcome them andproduced such an... sin," because they are
"born ofGod." This statement... We are constrained bylove to him who gave his...

Faustus Rejects the Old Testament Because it Leaves no Room for...
... thou sayest were not created byGod, butproduced from His... thou hast lost in opening
thine eyes tolove and worship... And so by the just judgment ofGod thou art...

Letter i. The Christian's Mark.
... so that every correct feeling, with every good act, isproduced by the... in grace,
and rising, by very sensible degrees, to higherlove toGod, weanedness to...

Love's Logic
... This may beproduced within us as the ripe fruit of... himself and his blessed Son,
and theanswers toprayer... If thou wouldstlove God, do not look within thee to...

General Remarks on the History of Missions in this Age.
... zeal amongst the Australian tribes, in whom Christianity hasproduced a germ of...answers
toprayer were there experienced"for thelove ofGod meets the...