How To Get Your Prayers Answered! Last time we talked a little bit about the reality that God answers prayers. We discovered that we need to talk to God and not at God, if we expect to see Him work powerfully in and through our lives. Today we are going to take a little time to think about the truth that God answers prayers, but it may not always be the answer that you are looking for!
Life is hard! You can do the right things and live the right life and it can still be very tough. Living a good life according to God’s guidelines does not guarantee that everything will go your way and always be easy. In fact, you can try and do everything right and still have challenges and frustrations. The difference for Christ followers is this: You are never alone! God is always with you – every step of the way.
God Answers! Just because things are not working the way that you think they should, does not mean they are not working. God is always at work and often is doing His greatest work when we are not even aware. When things are not going the way that you think they should, then it may seem that God is not answering your prayers. Keep in mind that God answers prayer – it just may not be the answer we want or expect, but it will always be the answer that we need!
When you pray – pray your heart and if it is not right, then be open to God challenging and changing your heart!
Prayer Talk! Let’s talk a little bit about prayer! Everybody knows that they need to pray, but most never get around to really doing it. And those of us that do take the time to pray, often do not do it right! I am not being critical, just stating a reality that we need to accept, so that we can change and grow in our communication with our Creator!
God’s Answers Prayer! When I read through my Bible, it becomes very clear that God answers prayer! I think many times our failure to get a response from God is really our failure to talk to Him. You see – a lot of times we talk at God instead of to God! We talk at God by giving Him our list of request, demands or deals – whatever you like to call them. Prayer is so much more than just talking at God. Prayer is talking to God, which means that we talk and listen. To talk to God is to have conversation. To talk to God, we have to know His will. To know God’s will, we have to spend time in His Word. If you don’t feel like God is answering your prayers, then make sure that you are talking to and not at Him!
Let’s Work To Grow In This Area! We look at this a little more tomorrow and hopefully it will grow our communication with our Creator!
I Am Blessed! I just wanted to take a moment to share with you one of my extra special blessings! I am blessed with a wonderful family. Any of you that know me, know how important my three girls are to me. Joy – my Bride, Grace and Hope – my Princesses! God has taught me so much though these relationships and has brought me more blessings than I can count.
Bed Time! Sunday night when I was getting ready to go to bed, Joy and I were having one of those conversations where we rehash the day and she told me a couple of things about my daughter Gracie that really worked on me in a good way.
Sunday Morning! Earlier in the day I had preached a message called “Crazy In Love!” which focused on the crazy and amazing love that God loves us with. I had explained to the congregation that the Holy Spirit had started showing me some things about my relationship with God that I had never really considered and believed these things could challenge and change all of our lives.
Good Is The Enemy Of Great! I have always thought that I had a pretty good relationship with God, but then one day while reading the “Crazy Love!” book by Francis Chan, I heard a song by Beyonce called “Crazy In Love!” and as I listened to the lyrics, she was explaining this intense love that she had that was driving her crazy in a good way. I could not help, but to think about how love can make you do some crazy things and I started to think about the crazy love that God has for me and how I could and should have a crazy love back toward Him.
On The Front Row! My daughter listened to me explain this on Sunday morning during our worship time and she watched the video where Francis Chan goes into even greater detail. (The video can be found here: http://juststopandthink.com/) When I finished the message and invitation, I explained that we had copies of Francis Chan’s “Crazy Love!” book in the back for purchase if anyone would like their own copy.
Take An Envelope! There was one other thing that I challenged our church to do on this day. I challenged them to take an envelope from the back and bring back a love gift to God for His Church the next week, because we had missed the week before due to snow and ice and the budget was tight!
My Blessing! What my daughter did that was so amazing to me – is she listened and obeyed! She listened to her Dad the pastor and did what he was asking/telling her to do. She believes in God and she believes in me! My nine year old daughter went to the back of the church and bought a book – I still don’t know where she got the money! And she went and got an envelope to bring a love gift back to God!
On Her Own! She did not ask anybody. She just did it! And as I lay in bed Sunday night thinking about her faithfulness to God and submission to me as her Pastor, it was a very humbling and moving experience for me. When I asked her about it later she said: “It just made sense and sounded like something that I would be interested in!”
My Lesson! She listened to her Dad, she trusted her Dad and she followed her Dad’s lead. God has given us leaders to help us to get to a very special place in our relationship with Him and I am thankful to my daughter for reminding me that I am one of those leaders! It may not mean much to you, but it means more than words can say to me! It is so amazing to think about where God would take us, if we would just innocently and trustingly follow the lead He provides!
