God Answers Prayers – He Really Does! – Part 3
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Isaiah 55:6-13
For many, I may have said nothing new in this series. I admit all this seem elementary. The fact remains that we all want the same thing – a better understanding of the way God answers our prayers. And if in all this some have been reminded and consequently encouraged, then these “drops” have generated their ripple effect.
It is essential that we know our prayers don’t fall into deaf ears….that we deal with a living, real, interactive God! The outline we’re using in this series is extremely helpful in breaking truths down into easy to understand tidbits – truths that otherwise run into each other.
The first point was, IF YOUR PRAYER IS WRONG, GOD WILL SAY NO”. Secondly, “IF THE TIMING IS WRONG, GOD WILL SAY “SLOW”. Today, we deal with the 3rd one: IF YOU ARE WRONG, GOD WIL SAY GROW!!!
This is a rather sobering statement, isn’t it? It gets very personal. No room for finger-pointing or blame-shifting. “If you are wrong…” This calls for a more stringent self-evaluation and spiritual inventory. Isn’t it often a lot easier to point the finger at God for not answering prayer than it is to look in the mirror and to say, “Could it be that I’m the problem here?” That’s simply human nature. Here are a few scriptural reminders:
Psalm 66:18 says “if I regard sin in my heart…..the Lord will not hear my prayers”. You can’t say it any better than that! The Psalmist keeps it personal! So, if I’m living a life of disobedience to God, some corrective process needs to take place before I can expect a favorable answer – favorable at least in my point of view.
In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus warns that if there is relational discord, if there are private wars going on between people, if there are broken friendships, our attempts to appease God come up short! Our relationship and close fellowship with Him is hindered. He says, “…if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” I interpret this as saying, “don’t even try to come before me asking for something – you don’t deserve an answer until you’ve made things right”. Our relationship with God should primarily reflect our relationship with people! We can’t try to “log-in” to God’s system with a “corrupt password”. All we’d get is an error message!
1 Peter 3:7 deals with marital issues. “Husbands,…..be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” Here’s what’s crystal clear here, guys: You want your prayers answered? Treat your wives right!
Ladies, actually your part comes first in verses 1-6. It talks about your beauty being internal rather than external. Read it and find out that the best way to win your husband over is through the way you live your lives – with purity, reverence to God and with a quiet, gentle spirit.
God’s “yes” answer is always predicated on whether we honor Him or not. He says, “Why should I honor your requests when you don’t honor me? Often the only obstacle standing in the way of you receiving your miracle is you. It’s you. It’s me.
The requests aren’t always wrong. Most of them are probably right. And timing isn’t necessarily the biggest problem. I tend to believe that God, for the most part is rather flexible and easygoing about timing. He has a heart inclined to meet our requests. In fact, I believe He can’t wait to shower us with His blessings! But when we’re wrong, God says, “I want you to grow first so can have a better value of what I’m about to give you!!! I want you to put that sin away. It’s the only thing standing in the way. Change your attitude. Stop that practice. End that pattern. Get off that merry-go-round. Stop vacillating. Reconcile that relationship. Soften your spirit up. Repent.”
James, the brother of Jesus says “the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much – or has great power.” So if you dishonor God in some area of your life on a continual basis, you are pulling the plug out of the power of prayer!
So God is saying, you’ve got to grow in this. He says, “When you grow, I’ll open up the floodgates of power and blessing and pour myself out to you! I can’t pour new wine into old wine skin”. You’ve got to have a bigger better container for what I’ll give you!” He’s saying, “there is power in prayer – but you’ve got to grow first.”
And here’s the last point: WHEN EVERYTHING IS RIGHT, GOD WILL SAY LET’S GO!
When the PRAYER is right, the TIMING is right, and when YOU are right, “Let’s go!” He says, “just let me release my power in your life; let me be great in you and through you; free me up to address and meet your needs”.
I believe God wants to change that impossible circumstance in your life so bad. I doubt that many of us understand just how badly he wants to touch that untouchable individual in your life. I’ll bet we often underestimate how badly God wants to move immovable mountains that stand in our path.
If the request is wrong, God will say “No.” And learn to thank him for saying that. If the timing is wrong, he’ll say “Slow.” If you are wrong, he will say “Grow.”
But if everything gets aligned with the plans that he has for you, you’ll be amazed at how often God will say, “Let’s go,” because you matter to him and it’s in his heart to meet your needs and grant your requests. It’s really more a matter of you letting him and freeing him to do it!!!
