Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I entered 2016 at the best place on earth, church and it was amazing! A few weeks ago, Facebook provided a suggestion of the best of my year and when I looked at it I thought, Facebook has no idea how inaccurate this really is. *insert smile*

For me, 2015 was one of the most memorable years I have had in a very long time. I made some very critical moves and decisions this year, but I also had some of the most amazing things happen to me. Today I want to share with you something amazing that happened to me and it is my hope that in my sharing you will understand that God really does hear and answer prayers.

As I wrote previously, I asked the Lord to send me on vacation in 2014 and not just send me on vacation, but to finance the vacation as well or as my mentor in Prayer, Zari Banks says, I wanted God to Cinderella me! I wrote that prayer in my journal and thought no more of it really, then on July 30th I received an email from a very prominent company inviting me to come to an event. At the time, I worked in IT for a law firm so receiving invitations is not uncommon, but this one was very different. This invitation was for me specifically and the company was offering to pay for my hotel and meals. They even provided a link to the hotel and when I clicked on it I was sold! I didn’t know how I was going to get there, but I knew I was going. I responded that I would accept the invitation and I registered but then I had to request both the use of my banked training time and money for the flight from my boss. I emailed my manager that day and I heard nothing. I assumed that it was something they wanted others to participate in but the invitation was an exclusive one so no one else could participate. While I was waiting for the reply from my manager, a representative from the company called me and asked me if I would be attending the event. I said that I was waiting for my company to decide if they would pay for the flight. The representative said, “Well if it’s just the flight, we can take care of that I believe. Let me make sure and I will get back to you.” That evening I had a meeting with my Bishop and he came into agreement with me that this company would cover the flight and before I arrived home that night I had confirmation that my flight would be covered.

A couple of days later, my manager informed that I would need to use vacation time and not training time and so I requested the days off. The request was granted and at the end of August I went on an all-expense paid trip to Hollywood, Florida. I left and flew to Florida, where a car and driver were waiting for me at the airport and not just any car either a Mercedes SUV. I really tried not to act like I was geeked up but I was and when we arrived at the hotel, I think I nearly passed out. The website did the hotel no justice! It was utterly amazing! I went up to my room and it was even more amazing! The next day I went to the meeting with the company and they treated me like a star. I was literally overwhelmed with all of it. I literally could not believe that I was staying in a hotel room with views of both the intercostal and the ocean with a wraparound balcony and I was not paying one red cent! I could not believe that I was having all of my needs met by people who had never met me before, but any need I had that weekend they made it happen. I could not believe that I was on vacation and I paid for nothing! The company even covered all of my tips! And when I thought of it all I could think of was that prayer I wrote in my journal more than a year before asking the Lord to send me away on vacation and finance it. He answered every part of that prayer and honored my request better than I could have ever imagined. Taking that trip, let me know that God really does hear and answer prayer; it may not happen when I think it’s supposed to happen but it happens right on time.

As we have now crossed over into 2016, I wanted to share this testimony because I want you to know that God really does answer your prayers. He really does hear you. It may not happen when you think it should happen, but it is always right on time; that trip was the catalyst for major shifts in my life and in my walk with Him, but I know had I not gone I would have missed more than just a vacation. It is vital to know that God answers, but let me say this, if you are not writing down your prayers you will have nothing to look back on to tell you that he answered. Had I not written down that prayer in my journal I would have just thought this was random but it really wasn’t, it was God. I can look back at all of the prayers I have prayed and see God’s hand moving because He has answered. If you are not in the habit of writing down your prayers, you should get into the practice of it. My prayer journal, Don't Stop Knocking, Don't Stop Seeking, Don't Stop Praying, Don't Stop Believing, will help you to write down your prayers, the answers, and more. Prayer is such an important conversation, we should want to document it so we can show others just what I have shown you today, that God hears and answers prayers. In 2016, make a resolve to pray more and as you pray more, write down your prayers so you can see for yourself how God answers.

Blessings! Liela

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