Yesterday, we saw that when our request is wrong God says “No” to our prayers.
When our request is good but the timing is wrong, God says, “Wait.”
For instance when a child asks if he/she can drive and get a car of their own, if they are not yet sixteen, the answer is “wait.” It is not a forever wait, but it is until they are able to get a license of their own.
We may pray for good things – for a God-honoring spouse, for a job that allows us to work and serve God, etc. – but when the timing is not right, God will answer our prayers with “wait.”
It is not a forever denial. It’s just not the right time.
And in the waiting time, God is preparing us to be ready to receive His blessing.
God answers every prayer. There is not a prayer that goes unheard and unanswered.
There are four ways God answers prayers. We will look at each of the four ways God answers prayers this week.
When our prayer request is wrong, God’s answer to our prayer request is, “No.”
No – is a legitimate answer to prayer. There is not a single parent on the planet who answers every request just the way their children ask. Could you imagine what a nightmare world it would be if parents answered all their children’s request in the way the children ask?
When we pray for something that is clearly outside God’s will – something that violates God’s commands and God’s word – God answers with a “No.” Could you imagine what a nightmare world it would be if God answered all our prayers just the way we ask for them?
I have met people who ask God to bless their family and marriage…and their extra-marital affair!!!
NO. NO. NO.
If the request is wrong, God’s answer to our prayer request is a solid “No.” And that’s a good thing.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Pillippians 4:6-7).
“Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36b).
Pray for the Mariners. They need it. The Mariners fans need it.
Pray for the Seahawks. They need it. The Seahawk nation needs it.
Pray for our divided country. We need it.
Pray for renewal. Our world needs it.
There are no “ungodly” prayers. There are no prayers off limits. Let God know what your heart desires. Be 100% honest. It’s not like God doesn’t already know what our hearts are harboring.
When Jesus was praying in Gethsemane before His arrest, He let God know exactly what He wanted. “Take this cup from me.” Save me from suffering. Save me from the brutalization of the cross. Save me from the heartache of rejection and betrayal. Save me from hell.
Jesus wanted to avoid the cross and hell with all His being. Who wouldn’t?
Yet, He ends His prayer with, “Not my will, but what you will.”
Prayer is not about saying and doing right things to trick and manipulate the Creator of all things to do what we want Him to do. Come on. Just look at how silly that sounds.
Prayer is about letting God know what’s on our hearts AND seeking God’s will. Prayer is about aligning our wants and desires with God desires.
So, pray for the Mariners! I want to know what it’s like to root for a World Series winner!
And remember to seek God’s will in our prayers so we can align our wants and desires to what God desires.
