“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

This week we are going to look at prayer. Or, more specifically, that God always answers prayer.

Garth Brooks sings a song called, “Unanswered Prayers,” where he sings about how when he was in high school he fervently prayed that God would make his high school crush his wife. Then he goes on to sing about how he thanks God for unanswered prayers because had God answered his high school prayer he would have never met his wife.

Interesting concept. But there’s a couple of things about this song that’s off kilter.

There are two truths I want us to remember about prayer.

First, there is never a time when God does not answer prayers. God always answers our prayers. That’s God’s absolute promise, and you can take that to the bank! There are many passages in scripture that tell us that God answers prayers. Here’s one:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11).

Second, God is sovereign. God is God, and we are not.

Romans 8:28 tells us, “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

This means God knows what is best for us, and only wants what is best for us. God cannot always answer our prayers the way we want them answered because sometimes the things we ask for are not good for us. Besides, if God were to answer our prayers, he would be merely be our Genie doing whatever we ask for. That would make us gods and God our servant, doing our bidding.

God is sovereign. God is God, and we are not.

For today, the thing to remember about prayer is that:

1. God always answers prayers
2. God is sovereign. God is God and we are not

“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Yesterday we saw that God always answers prayer and that God is sovereign. God is God and we are not.

Because God always answers prayer, and because God is sovereign, one of the ways God answers our prayer is with a “no”.

God answers our prayer with a “no” when our prayers are wrong. God answers some prayers with a “no” because God is a good God. There are times we ask God for things that are contrary to God’s will, and there are times we ask for things that will actually harm us or harm others. In such times, God must answer “no”.

We are told in Psalm 145:17, “The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.”

Because God is just in all his ways, when our requests are wrong, he must reply in the negative.

Because God is kind in all his doings, when our requests will actually bring harm to ourselves or others, God must reply in the negative.

For God to answer requests that are wrong would be cruel and unjust.

We may not like it when God denies our prayers, but we must acknowledge that “no” is a legitimate answer. And, because God is God and we are not, we must be willing to accept God’s “no”. When our prayers and requests are wrong, God’s “no” is God’s kindness to us.

When our prayers and requests are wrong, God’s “no” is the most kind answer God can give us.

God, thank you for answering our prayers with a “no” when our requests are wrong. We trust and accept your “no” as an expression of your kindness and justice.

I came across a tweet today that rocked me.

Jesus knew. Jesus knew that he had one day left with his disciples before he would die for the sins of the world. And he washed feet!

“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him…After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord – and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:3-5, 12-15).