Didn’t get a response on that prayer.. yet? Sorry.
Not to be cavalier or insensitive, but that kinda happens whenever we have unoffered prayers. Sure, happens to me too. Sittin' there actin' as if I prayed about it.. and I didn't yet turn to the Lord and pray about it.
Silent wishin’ is merely wishin’. Nothin' wrong with wishin' but it sure ain't prayin' in faith.
You know that "prayer" is a family exercise really, so are you in His? In God's via repentance and faith in His Son? ‘Have mercy. So sorry, I repent, Lord. Please forgive me’ in Jesus’ Name.. is the first prayer God responds to. Are you harboring unconfessed sin.. lovin’ and excusing it as so many do? All of us sin, but it’s what we do with it after it happens! Got unprayed prayers, got unrighteous selfish motives inside and a doubtin’ mind? He can help ya. Are you tryin’ on your own to answer your unprayed prayers? Why? All on your own ain’t good. Two of God’s most wonderful responses to us are, ‘Uh no!.. you’ve got to be kiddin’!.. and 'Wait a bit.’ But who likes to hear either from Him? Hey Buckeroo, glance back later on and if your eyes still semi-work some you’ll indeed feel like givin’ thanks. Be encouraged. There’s really no such thing as unanswered prayer. ~ k
My opinions don't really matter much, so what does God have to say?
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." James 4:3
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22
"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:6
Sin in our lives. So just confess and repent!
The psalmist wrote, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" Ps. 66:18
Not that God is really unable to hear, for He is always omniscient, but it's that He maintains His distance when we allow pet sins to be a blocking wall between us.
Major disobedience can set us up for some long-term so called unanswered prayer:
God's people already had a King, but asked for a way inferior king. "So Samuel told them, delivered God’s warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king. He said, “This is the way the kind of king you’re talking about operates. He’ll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry, regimented in battalions and squadrons. He’ll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He’ll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He’ll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He’ll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he’ll take for his own use. He’ll lay a tax on your flocks and you’ll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don’t expect God to answer.” (1 Samuel 8:18 msg). "..the Lord will not answer you in that day."
To say yes would bring us harm that we don't foresee.
God has something better.. far greater in store for us.
Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to hurry up and heal sick Lazarus, but He had resurrection in mind for them.
We pray at cross purposes with other believers.
• Two Christians on opposing teams, praying for their team to win.
• Two Christians applying for the same job or to get their child in the same preschool spot.
God has to say "No" to one to say "Yes" to the other.
People sometimes pray for things where a "yes" is not appropriate.
• That a sister was never murdered though she already was murdered in the town of Corpus Christi. Mine. Kathy.
We pray for things that have already been determined.
• Praying that the anti-Christ will never arrive here on earth - might already be here.
• Like against having a boy or girl in the womb where he or she has already been conceived.
• Praying for the salvation of someone who's already dead. There's not really any salvation for a person after their death. Nope, but there is a judgement seat. "Hope I'll get in - hope my good works will outweigh my bad ones".. just ain't good. Ya really need to have an assurance of Christ's free salvation in advance and God can give you that today ..in Christ.
We get discouraged in prayer by thinking God has said no when in fact He's said nothing at all..yet.
"Wait on that. Wait up Buckeroo".. from God is indeed a good answer too. His delay is not His denial.
God often delays His answer to cultivate patience, character, and persistence in us, and to build up our faith.
Or to bring our will around to what's better .. to conform not to this world, but to His own.
God's "No" is not rejection, but redirection.
God's "no" to one thing is a "yes" to another.
God said "No" to David's desire to build a temple. He was a man of war. 2 Sam 7
God's "No" ain't really a punishment, it's basically ..preparation.
"And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Rom 5:2-5
God is preparing us to be His Son's bride. Might sound strange guys, but it's true. We Christians will one day reign with Him. And we must be prepared.. be made into a bride worthy of the position He has for us there. He develops perseverance, character, and hope as we walk with and fully trust Him via prayer and obedience. Prayer and spiritual warfare if ya will is God's means of preparing us for this so called bride-hood. So let our loving God be in control of your life! Let Jesus be Lord of every area.
Be encouraged today. God's "No" will sometimes bring greater glory to God and that's important.
God's "No" if we accept it opens the door to an adventure with God.
Elijah, in 1st Kings 19 prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors." God said "no" ..because He had an adventure planned for Elijah!
Two of God’s most wonderful responses to us are, ‘No, not gunna happen’, and 'Wait a bit.’ Ever got a "Might happen for another, but not for you.. not now, not here, not ever cuz I love and am for you"? I have. But who likes to hear either no or wait from Him? Hey Buckeroo, just glance back later on and if your eyes still semi-work some you’ll indeed feel like givin’ thanks. There’s really no such thing as unanswered prayer, Christian.
"Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out. 'My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' And Elisha saw him no more." 2 Kings 2:11
Two of God’s best responses to us are, ‘Uh no!.. you've got to be kiddin’, and 'Hold your horses and wait up Sport.’ But He really delights to say "Yes", so keep on seeking the Lord, keep on praying in faith, and keep expecting a response from Him. God loves you and He has a plan.
