God answers prayer

God ALWAYS answers prayers. It may not be the way we want or like or expect but He does answer His followers prayers.

Matthew 7:8a For everyone who asks receives

God like a good parent though decides what is best for us and answers our prayers accordingly.

Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

So how does God answer our prayers?

1. Yes and it happens quickly. Sometimes we ask right at the exact moment God wants to bless us and it was in His timing.

2. Yes but not at this moment. At other times we ask and the answer is yes but the timing is not right in God’s eyes. We don't not want anything at anytime that is not exactly right with God, trust me! Read about Joesph’s life in Egypt to see this.

3. Yes, to teach us a lesson. We don’t want this yes! Remember when Israel wanted a King like other nations? God did not want this but let them have their own way. Not good! Be careful what we ask for and make sure according to God’s Word we are asking appropriately! For God will sometimes let our hard heads have what we want to teach us we did not really want that!

4. No, our heart is not right. 

James 4:3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

Proverbs 1:28-29 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,This is God protecting us and trying to help us get right with Him!

5. No because God has something better! Think Martha and Mary here in John 11 when their brother Lazarus had died. They wanted Jesus to come and heal Him to before He died but Jesus had a better plan....to let him die and bring him back to life for God’s glory!

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

These are the answers to prayers. I am still amazed God even listens to us, we are so unworthy but that is how much God loves us!

Tom

*Some of the thoughts shared here were taken from “The battle plan for prayer” by the Kendrick Brothers