'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
The world calls it unanswered prayers and then they ask, "Why pray to a God who won’t answer your prayers?"
Have you ever noticed that satan loves to swoop in with questions like that to cause doubt in people’s lives? We've all attended funerals of friends and loved ones who died before they had a chance to be old. I know for certain there were many fervent prayers prayed asking for total healing, and yet God chose to take them Home. Some view that as unanswered prayer. That may seem like fact, but it’s certainly not the Truth.
I don't believe there is any such thing as unanswered prayer. The Truth of the matter is that our prayers ARE answered - ALL of them. They just aren't always answered the way we want them to be…
Sometimes the answer is 'No'
Prayer:
Father,
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts higher than our thoughts. We choose to trust You. Give us revelation, Father. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
Showing posts with label unanswered prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unanswered prayer. Show all posts
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Sunday, February 16, 2020
If Jesus is...
But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Luke 5:16 NLT
I have been asked if Jesus is part of the Godhead, why did He need to pray? Good question, even better is, if Jesus prayed, why don't we?
The other day, someone mentioned Matthew 6:8 and asked, if God knows what we need before we ask, why do we ask? However, if we read what was said before and after that statement, we realize it is taken out of context. Jesus was talking about vain repetition - just saying words over and over - rather than praying from a heart full of faith in God.
Jesus prayed on Earth because He was human and knew there was no way to do life without communicating with the Father. He prayed alone, He prayed with others, He prayed FOR others. He prayed short prayers, He prayed all night long. He prayed inside buildings and outside in nature.
In His most desperate time on Earth, He prayed for an answer and the answer was 'No' (the Garden of Gethsemane). It is important to note that His prayer didn't go UNanswered, but it wasn't answered the way WE would have wanted if we'd been praying for a way out. It is VITAL to note that Jesus prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine..." (Luke 22:42), just as He taught us to pray in Matthew 6, "...Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".
And even TODAY, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us (Romans 8:34). So, if Jesus is praying, shouldn't we be?
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
May Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
Luke 5:16 NLT
I have been asked if Jesus is part of the Godhead, why did He need to pray? Good question, even better is, if Jesus prayed, why don't we?
The other day, someone mentioned Matthew 6:8 and asked, if God knows what we need before we ask, why do we ask? However, if we read what was said before and after that statement, we realize it is taken out of context. Jesus was talking about vain repetition - just saying words over and over - rather than praying from a heart full of faith in God.
Jesus prayed on Earth because He was human and knew there was no way to do life without communicating with the Father. He prayed alone, He prayed with others, He prayed FOR others. He prayed short prayers, He prayed all night long. He prayed inside buildings and outside in nature.
In His most desperate time on Earth, He prayed for an answer and the answer was 'No' (the Garden of Gethsemane). It is important to note that His prayer didn't go UNanswered, but it wasn't answered the way WE would have wanted if we'd been praying for a way out. It is VITAL to note that Jesus prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine..." (Luke 22:42), just as He taught us to pray in Matthew 6, "...Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".
And even TODAY, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us (Romans 8:34). So, if Jesus is praying, shouldn't we be?
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
May Your name be kept holy. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Friends' Favorites - He Can! Can You?
... if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9:22b-24 NIV
We want to claim a walk of faith, but when was the last time we checked the reality of it? What does it mean to walk in faith? It means we don't have all the answers in front of us. We reduce God to our level of ineptitude by our unbelief and then want to blame Him when our prayers are not answered. In our minds, we define God by our self-righteousness rather than define ourselves by His true righteousness.
Maybe we don't know where the money's coming from for that bill that is due or for groceries, but we can know that God is true to His Word. And if we are in covenant with Him, He will supply all of our needs in glory by Christ Jesus. That's His Word, not mine.
Sometimes, we don't know why people get sick but we can know how they can get well. Jesus took the stripes on His back to purchase our healing. He is the Healer. He sends His Word and it can heal.
Sometimes, they don't get well. Sometimes they die. Titus tells us we have this Truth - His truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
It's not a pick-and-choose situation. We can't just pick the ones we like and forget the rest. Addison Road did a song called, "What Do I Know of Holy?" and it depicts this whole scenario of confining God to our finite-ness. Limiting Him by who we are and/or what we believe. Negating His promises by our words of unbelief - our view of Him as too small, as not enough...
Have you thought about who He is? Who God is doesn't change just because our circumstances change or our feelings change or because our friends say so. His sovereignty is not diminished by our inability to believe. However, what we receive IS limited by what we believe.
Can we be forgiven? Can we be made new? Can He heal? Can He provide? Can He restore? Can He remove the stain of sin? Can He empower us to overcome? Yes, He can and He will... Can you believe?
Prayer:
Father,
Shine Your light of Truth into the deepest, darkest places of our lives. Root out unbelief. Your Words are alive and powerful! Quicken them in us, Father, so that we may fulfill Your purpose in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9:22b-24 NIV
We want to claim a walk of faith, but when was the last time we checked the reality of it? What does it mean to walk in faith? It means we don't have all the answers in front of us. We reduce God to our level of ineptitude by our unbelief and then want to blame Him when our prayers are not answered. In our minds, we define God by our self-righteousness rather than define ourselves by His true righteousness.
Maybe we don't know where the money's coming from for that bill that is due or for groceries, but we can know that God is true to His Word. And if we are in covenant with Him, He will supply all of our needs in glory by Christ Jesus. That's His Word, not mine.
Sometimes, we don't know why people get sick but we can know how they can get well. Jesus took the stripes on His back to purchase our healing. He is the Healer. He sends His Word and it can heal.
Sometimes, they don't get well. Sometimes they die. Titus tells us we have this Truth - His truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
It's not a pick-and-choose situation. We can't just pick the ones we like and forget the rest. Addison Road did a song called, "What Do I Know of Holy?" and it depicts this whole scenario of confining God to our finite-ness. Limiting Him by who we are and/or what we believe. Negating His promises by our words of unbelief - our view of Him as too small, as not enough...
Have you thought about who He is? Who God is doesn't change just because our circumstances change or our feelings change or because our friends say so. His sovereignty is not diminished by our inability to believe. However, what we receive IS limited by what we believe.
Can we be forgiven? Can we be made new? Can He heal? Can He provide? Can He restore? Can He remove the stain of sin? Can He empower us to overcome? Yes, He can and He will... Can you believe?
Prayer:
Father,
Shine Your light of Truth into the deepest, darkest places of our lives. Root out unbelief. Your Words are alive and powerful! Quicken them in us, Father, so that we may fulfill Your purpose in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Friday, July 7, 2017
Years
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9 KJV
You've been praying for how long? Believing since when? Have you forgotten about it? Given up? DON'T!
You think it's too late, too long? It's NEVER too late with God. Do you need proof?
Okay. Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was 100 years old when Sarah conceived and she was 90! Think about just the reality of those numbers. Abraham still believed God's promise even though they'd been waiting for years! Genesis 18:14, Is anything too difficult for the Lord?
God's covenant promises do not wear out or become less over the course of time. You need more proof? Rainbows are a sign of His covenant and when were they created? In the days of Noah! How many years ago was that - and yet I know we've all seen rainbows in our lifetime.
Breathe new life into those prayers of salvation for your loved ones. Keep believing and thanking God with the faith He has given you. He hasn't forgotten. And after all, He is a God of miracles and He keeps His promises.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word is alive and powerful! It does not diminish. Just as Isaiah prophesied, it does not return to You empty, but will accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. We choose to believe every Word You have spoken, and give You praise and honor for them. Send a fresh anointing to stand steadfast in our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Galatians 6:9 KJV
You've been praying for how long? Believing since when? Have you forgotten about it? Given up? DON'T!
You think it's too late, too long? It's NEVER too late with God. Do you need proof?
Okay. Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was 100 years old when Sarah conceived and she was 90! Think about just the reality of those numbers. Abraham still believed God's promise even though they'd been waiting for years! Genesis 18:14, Is anything too difficult for the Lord?
God's covenant promises do not wear out or become less over the course of time. You need more proof? Rainbows are a sign of His covenant and when were they created? In the days of Noah! How many years ago was that - and yet I know we've all seen rainbows in our lifetime.
Breathe new life into those prayers of salvation for your loved ones. Keep believing and thanking God with the faith He has given you. He hasn't forgotten. And after all, He is a God of miracles and He keeps His promises.
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word is alive and powerful! It does not diminish. Just as Isaiah prophesied, it does not return to You empty, but will accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. We choose to believe every Word You have spoken, and give You praise and honor for them. Send a fresh anointing to stand steadfast in our faith. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Thursday, January 30, 2014
* Answered Prayer
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
An old friend of mine sent an article to me, with a note that he thought I’d be interested in the writings of the particular author. The article began by mentioning that one of the author’s readers told him she would pray for him. It then proceeded to be an heretical diatribe about prayer and my heavenly Father. The author’s viewpoint was that both are a waste of time. God forgive him…
There was a time in my life I would have gone into full battle mode and charged in with Scriptures flailing, and been caught up in vain arguments for days, but nowadays, I don’t have the time or energy for useless battles. I don’t know if my old friend is nearing the end of his life and now questions his own agnostic view of life or what. I have presented the Gospel to him two or three times, but he has always rejected it - albeit respectfully - but rejected it nonetheless. He and the author in question have bought a common lie and both use it as a reason to not believe in God. They call it unanswered prayers. Why pray to a God who won’t answer your prayers?
Have you ever noticed that satan loves to swoop in with questions like that to cause doubt in people’s lives? We've all attended funerals of friends and loved ones who died before they had a chance to be old. I know for certain there were many fervent prayers prayed asking for total healing, and yet God chose to take them Home. Some view that as unanswered prayer. That may seem like fact, but it’s certainly not the Truth.
I don't believe there is any such thing as unanswered prayer. The Truth of the matter is that our prayers ARE answered - ALL of them. They just aren't always answered with the answer we want…
Sometimes the answer is no.
Prayer:
Father,
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts higher than our thoughts. Give us revelation, Father. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
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