Dear Friends,
I’m not the most patient person in the world; that’s why I love my I-phone. When I want to know the weather, I don’t have to wait for the evening weather report.
I can check it out on my phone. If I’m asked a question and don’t know the answer, I can use my Wikipedia application. Instant answers make me happy. I would also like immediate answers when I pray, but that doesn’t always happen. “Why doesn’t God always answer the first time we pray?”
When the request isn’t right, God says “No!”
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 (NLT)
It’s important to recognize that delay is not necessarily denial. Granted, there are times when our requests are not right — not in God’s will, and whether we like it or not, the answer is “No.” God will never give us anything that conflicts with his Word. Sometimes in our pain we may want God to confirm our plan or answer a request in the way we feel is best. His plan is always better, and sometimes his plan is for nothing to happen, or for it to happen in a way we didn’t expect.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
When I’m, not right, God says “Grow!”
Rick Warren reminds us that God is more concerned with our character than with our comfort. Sometimes God will test us before he will bless us.
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8 (NLT)
While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Hebrews 5:7 (NLT)
That verse from the book of Hebrews really hit my heart. When Jesus prayed, God answered because of Jesus deep reverence for the Father. It made me wonder if I approach the Father in deep reverence when I pray?
King David knew that God would answer when his heart was right.
The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I am not guilty of turning from my God. Psalm 18:21-22 (NIV)
When the timing isn’t right, God says “Slow!”
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. 2 Peter 3:9a (NLT)
Several years ago, I was invited to go skydiving. If you’ll pardon the expression, I jumped at the chance. It was a tandem jump where I was attached to a professional who would guide me through the experience. After the plane reached 15,000 feet, the signal was given; we stepped out of the plane and started descending earthward at 120 miles per hour. After falling for some time, the instructor tapped me on my hip, indicating it was time to pull the ripcord. I just continued to scan the horizon. After a few more seconds, the instructor tapped me again — a bit more aggressively this time. Once again, I failed to pull the cord. When a third tap drew no response, he reached around me, and pulled the cord which deployed the parachute. We floated softly to earth.
When we landed, the instructor unhooked the chute, faced me, and asked why I hadn’t pulled the rip cord. I replied, “I knew you’d know the perfect time to pull the cord.” Sometimes our timing is off, but, as with the instructor in my skydiving story, God’s timing is perfect.
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT)
As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Micah 7:7 (NLT)
So, what should we do when we feel our prayers aren’t being answered?
Don’t trust your feelings; trust your faith. Pray more!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10 (NLT)
How important is it to continue to pray? Just after Jesus taught his disciples what we call the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus told the story about a man who went to his neighbor’s house wanting to borrow bread to feed a friend who had unexpectedly arrived at his home. The neighbor made several excuses for not coming to the door, but Jesus explained, “But I tell you this—though he (the neighbor) won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” Luke 11:8
When the request is right, the timing is right, and we are right, God says GO!”
Want God to say, “Go!” more often? Be shamelessly persistent in your prayers.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:3-4 (NLT)
As a sinner saved by grace, I am more astonished by prayers that are answered than I am upset by those that aren’t. God truly is good all the time.
The messages over the past seven weeks have largely been drawn from the sermon series and small group study “40 Days of Prayer” by Rick Warren. We hope they have helped strengthen your prayer life.
We close this week offering special thanks to God for our friend Letty Smyth who went home to be with the Lord. She was an inspiration and a joy.
Blessings,
Your Friends in Christ.
Because He Loves Us Press 