For the last couple lessons from John the apostle, we have been learning about prayer. We know that God loves us and that we are to love one another, but is there a specific way to pray so our prayers are answered? Yesterday we learned that we are to pray according to “His” will, and “He” will hear us and give us the petitions we desire. Yet, what about when it seems that our prayers are not answered? What happens when we do not get what we request? Is God listening? Does God care? Let's take another look at John's words in the book of First John in chapter five and verse fifteen. He wrote:
And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
First, let's remember how God hears us – we pray according to His will. Second, we have a promise that if we know that He hears us, “whatsoever” we ask, we know we have the petitions we desire. So, what happens when we do not get those petitions? The answer comes once again with our relationship with God. Remember that He is the priority. His will is best for us, and He always answers our prayers. Sometimes we just do not like the answers.
God answers prayers in three ways – Yes, No, and Wait. Although we often think that God should answer our prayers right away, sometimes He has something different in mind. We have to remember that God has the bigger picture in mind. He knows everything. He knows the past, present and future in one glance, and we only have the present and small bits of the past and future in mind. God knows. No part of mystery ahead is a mystery to Him. He knows what is best, and sometimes the “Best” is for Him to say “No”. Sometimes He does say yes, and sometimes the timing is not best for us. For example, let's suppose an eight year old wanted to drive his father's car from Tallahassee to Texas. He might ask his father, beg his father, plead over and over with his father and even give great reasons and experience to his father, but if the father is responsible, he will tell the child “no” or “wait.” The child's experience is not enough. The pleading and begging are not enough. The father lovingly tells the child “no”. The father is not being mean to his child. No, rather he is loving his child because the child is not ready to for this task.
So it is with God. When we pray and do not receive what we ask for, no matter how important it may be, God knows best. He has eternity in mind. When we do not receive our petitions right away, it becomes grounds for our trust or mistrust of our Heavenly Father. Some disparage, and some even quit. But for those who will simply understand that God has something different in mind that lovingly keeps the eternal in perspective, relationship and fellowship with Him will continue no matter what His answer may be.
We must remember these verses found in the book of Proverbs in chapter three and verses five and six when we pray:
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Nest time we will look at what John the apostle says we should do when we see one of our brothers or sisters sin, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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