(This post was originally published on November 2, 2012 right here.)
Have you ever prayed to God for something really specific, and it actually got answered?
With regard to housing post-wedding, here’s what I was praying for:
An apartment –
1. With reasonable rent
2. That was near my husband-to-be’s workplace
3. That had two bathrooms
I think numbers 1 and 2 were more part of my hubby-to-be’s prayers, whereas number 3 was what I emphasized to the Lord. For the record, this asking was not done haphazardly. I had learned through the years that as a child and servant of God, I could ask, and I would receive (Matthew 7:7). I also learned that as a regular tither (one who gives back to God 10% of blessings received, such as income), I would be on the receiving end of “blessings without measure,” as God promises in Malachi 3:10.
Since my fiance was already working in the countryside, it was his job to go apartment-hunting. And every time he would come upon an apartment with check marks for numbers 1 and 2, but not number 3, I knew that wasn’t the one. Turned out that most apartments in that place had only one bathroom. Nevertheless, I insisted on having two. I had several reasons, one of which was just in case anything happened to one (say, some toilet trouble), then we had another for contingency.
Long story short – God answered our prayers. After some more exploring, my fiance found the apartment that was suitable for us. Yes, the rent was within our league (and much lower than city rates); it was about two minutes away by car to his office; and yes, it had two bathrooms, to my joy!
Take note, I had only seen the apartment in pictures, as I had never left the city to see it for myself. When I finally got to see it with my own eyes…well…thank You, Lord, we have a place to stay…but honestly, the drab shades of green on the doors, the walls and the floors were…not to my liking. A paint job was not on our priority list of expenses, and I don’t think Mrs Landlady – who lived five houses away – would allow us to simply change the look of this dwelling anyway, being the fourth in a row of same-looking apartments.
I had to remind myself that this, indeed, was a blessing, as God did answer all my prayers regarding the apartment. He didn’t miss a thing. But maybe I should’ve added a number 4: that the apartment wouldn’t have them drab shades of green to begin with…nah, I learned to live with it. And be thankful, too.