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"And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel." (II Samuel 15:31-34)As David abandoned Jerusalem, he covered his head and went barefoot to the top of the Mount Olivet (v.30). His counselor Ahithophel had gone over to Absalom's side. On the way up the mountain, he prayed that Ahithophel's counsel would be turned into foolishness.As David reached the top, he saw Hushai. His torn clothing and dust on his head indicated his deep grief at what was happening. Hushai was one of David's counselors also. Being an elderly man, he could not travel quickly like David's men. David realized his prayer had been answered. He sent Hushai back into Jerusalem to oppose the counsel of Ahithophel. It was a dangerous assignment, but he took it as a willing servant of the king.We pray and God hears and answers accordingly. If we're not watching and expecting the answer to be sent, we will miss it. The answer to David's prayer was not as he might have imagined, neither is God's answer to many of our prayers. That is why we must be alert and in tune to the Holy Spirit, expectantly looking for the answer. The fervent prayer of David and God's immediate answer turned the whole course of the future and was a factor in the saving his house and throne.D.L Moody used to say, "Fervency in prayer by the power of Holy Spirit is a good preservative against thoughts rushing in. Flies never settle on a boiling pot."Friends, the psalmist wrote, "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue," (Psalm 39:3) Therefore, let's never miss out on God's answers to prayers which have been ignited and set ablaze by the power of the Holy Spirit.