People who influence people the most are those who always show thankfulness!
Thanksgiving time brings warm memories of family gatherings, of the aroma of turkey and its trimmings being prepared, of favorite foods and pies and the joy of spending a few special hours with family again! The rush and busyness of everyday living has robbed many people of their gratitude for blessings we have been privileged to enjoy in our great country of America! Let's remember with gratfulness!
If you counted your blessings and wrote them out, how many could you list on paper? At this time of the year, it is good to remember to thank God again for our beloved land of the free; --for God's protection, provision and guidance during the last ten months, --for our abundance of everything we have need of, for the comforts and conveniences of life such as our home, our telecommumications, medical facilities, and our military personnel serving overseas in order to protect our country, just to name a few.
On the other side of the coin, the Mission Fields of the world tell us that life is very different from our homes, and not without problems and yet they express gratefulness for what they do have. Nations rise and fall and other nations are changing focus in many directions all the time. Missionaries see these factors but they are working hard to bring in their harvest before the winds of change develop into storms that could change the face of missions. They are more concerned about the people God sent them to and they are grateful for the call of God to bring the gospel to them. One missionary wrote:
.....If you own a Bible, you are blessed. More than one-third of the world's population does not even have access to one. In some countries one page is all a national pastor has until he can exchange his page with another pastor.
.....If you awoke this morning with more health than illness, you are blessed. One million people will not survive this week.
.....If you have never experienced war, imprisonment, torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are more fortunate that 500 million people who live with these on a daily basis.
.....If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and money in your pocket, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.
We should daily ask ourselves some questions to measure our gratefulness:
1. Do we talk daily about our blessings or more about our disappointments?
2. Do we complain or grumble about our circumstances,or do we see God working through them?
3. Are we content with life or dissatisfied and always wanting more?
4. How often do we thank others for the little things they do for us, or do we take them for granted and seldom say "Thank you!"
5. Do others say I am a thankful person, or are they silent about that subject? We tell on ourselves by the things we say and the things we do.
As we share thanksgiving dinner with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day, let's take time to express our gratefulness to God who has "...blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3.) Let's pray for our missionaries serving far from home this year and those on assignment to raise more support to fulfill the vision God gave them, --for the families who are missing a family member because he/she is serving in Iraq, --for those in your church or next door who are not well and would appreciate a dinner plate from your home and perhaps those who have been alienated or estranged from their own family and long to return. This Thanksgiving time, let's recall our blessings again with gratefulness and express that gratefulness verbally to our heavenly Father, then to those who shared Thanksgiving dinner with us!
You can become a strong influence in the lives of other Christians when you express gratefulness to them often for their small or great contribution in your life! You can make a difference!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Healing is For Today
Do you believe you can be healed today? That question can be answered with two more questions: Has the Word of God changed? Is Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever?
Prepare your heart for healing through God's Word. First, consider the power of the Word of God as compared to the philosophies of those who would say that healing is not for us today. If "philosophers" never experienced a healing, how could they know if it is or is not for us today? If they came to declare this to me, I would have to tell them they came too late.....because I have already been healed many times. Apparently they do not know the scripture that declares "the Word of God standeth forever," which confirms that God's promises for healing stand forever too!
Socrates, an Athenian philosopher; Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and tutor of Alexander the Great, and Plato, another Greek philosopher,---all world renowned philosophers in their day taught and/or offered their views or theories on questions in ethics, metaphysics, logic, and other fields, with eloquent words. But after their death, their writings have faded from importance except as subjects to be studied in universities and colleges. Today, there appears to be no wide spread need for their philosophies for the average person.
On the other hand, the Word of God that was spoken through prophets and priests centuries ago as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, has outlived philosophers, orators and humanists. Jesus lived on earth, died on a cross for all sinners and returned to His heavenly Father, yet His Word lives on and it has not only endured and withstood many tests through many storms and threats of extinction for many generations but it has brought change wherever it has been taught and received. Missionaries especially, confirm the Word of God has changed cannibalistic nations into civilization. It has brought peace and comfort in times of bereavement and sorrow. In remote areas where medical service was either 4-5 hours away or there was none available for many miles, when prayer was earnestly made to God, healings and miracles happened! When faced with fear and the unknown in the face of death, there is no record of someone asking for a dictionary or a book of philosophy to be read. He asked for the Word of God because its Words brought hope and peace. All of the Word of God has and is life for the reader.
The Bible also brought encouragement, direction for day to day living and answers in times of crisis. It led us to salvation, peace with God and eternal life. To every born again believer it has given life to God's great and precious promises for every circumstance. Why? Its Author is God Himself, the God Who created man in His image. And God knows all about him, .....even his physical needs, and how to restore or heal him.
Scripture confirms that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." He is the God of yesterday and the future but He is also the God of Today! God spoke through Isaiah, "My Word that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING WHERETO I SENT IT." (ISAIAH 55:11.) Looking at a parade of evidences, we can conclude He is the same yesterday, today and forever in every circumstance! Yes! This means He is the God of healing, restoration and renewal for the future and for today!
Through His Word, God invites you to "Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16.) Here are some factors to know that will help as you prepare for your healing:
1. Faith is needed.
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Preparation for healing requires that you first have faith to believe God is and that He is a "rewarder of those that diligently seek Him." Your faith grows as you spend quality time in prayer and in the Word of God, and especially when you place your name in the scriptures, for emphasis. Many Christians who do this confirm this has helped their faith.
2. Realize Jesus finished His Work at Calvary.
Healing is a finished work of Calvary as far as God is concerned, but you have to do more than hope or wish for it. To have the "finished work" or evidence of the healing, you must RECEIVE it. Peter declares, "By whose stripes ye were healed," (I Peter 2:24.) Healing was and is for you or your family members but if you have not received it, you need to continue to read the healing scriptures again and again until you have memorized them and they are a part of your confession every day.
3. "Everyone who asks, receives."
Jesus stated those words in Matthew 7:7-11. When you pray for healing, Jesus wants you to receive what you asked for because His Word declares, "By whose stripes ye WERE healed." Rewording it can help your faith by quoting "I believe it was through His stripes I WAS HEALED," and then stand firmly on your declaration without wavering.
4. Jesus healed them all.
Since Christ came to do the Father's will, the fact that He HEALED THEM ALL is proof that it is God's will that all be healed. (If it were not God's will for all to be healed, then how did they all get healed?)
5. Stand in your authority.
At all times, you need to stand in the authority Jesus shared with you in Luke 10:19. BELIEVE that you have the authority over ALL the power of the enemy, even Satan's attack of sickness he is trying to put on you. Speak to your sickness to go in Jesus' Name, commanding it to return to the one who sent it. When you speak boldly with authority, in faith, nothing wavering, the sickness will begin to die; your condition will begin to reverse and in time you will see the full manifestation of complete healing.
(NOTE; See previous blog titled, "The Prayer of Authority," September 7, 2007. To 9pen this blog, scroll to the end of this page. See the words "Older Posts" at the end of the page. Press or double click on the words "Older Posts." Wait, and the previous page with blogs will appear. Scroll down on that page to "The Prayer of Authority" and read the article with additional information on Authority.)
Only believe! This is God's Word. It will never change! He promised that His Word would NOT return to Him void, but it would accomplish what it was sent to do. Dare to believe healing is for you today and witness the power of His promise!
Prepare your heart for healing through God's Word. First, consider the power of the Word of God as compared to the philosophies of those who would say that healing is not for us today. If "philosophers" never experienced a healing, how could they know if it is or is not for us today? If they came to declare this to me, I would have to tell them they came too late.....because I have already been healed many times. Apparently they do not know the scripture that declares "the Word of God standeth forever," which confirms that God's promises for healing stand forever too!
Socrates, an Athenian philosopher; Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and tutor of Alexander the Great, and Plato, another Greek philosopher,---all world renowned philosophers in their day taught and/or offered their views or theories on questions in ethics, metaphysics, logic, and other fields, with eloquent words. But after their death, their writings have faded from importance except as subjects to be studied in universities and colleges. Today, there appears to be no wide spread need for their philosophies for the average person.
On the other hand, the Word of God that was spoken through prophets and priests centuries ago as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, has outlived philosophers, orators and humanists. Jesus lived on earth, died on a cross for all sinners and returned to His heavenly Father, yet His Word lives on and it has not only endured and withstood many tests through many storms and threats of extinction for many generations but it has brought change wherever it has been taught and received. Missionaries especially, confirm the Word of God has changed cannibalistic nations into civilization. It has brought peace and comfort in times of bereavement and sorrow. In remote areas where medical service was either 4-5 hours away or there was none available for many miles, when prayer was earnestly made to God, healings and miracles happened! When faced with fear and the unknown in the face of death, there is no record of someone asking for a dictionary or a book of philosophy to be read. He asked for the Word of God because its Words brought hope and peace. All of the Word of God has and is life for the reader.
The Bible also brought encouragement, direction for day to day living and answers in times of crisis. It led us to salvation, peace with God and eternal life. To every born again believer it has given life to God's great and precious promises for every circumstance. Why? Its Author is God Himself, the God Who created man in His image. And God knows all about him, .....even his physical needs, and how to restore or heal him.
Scripture confirms that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." He is the God of yesterday and the future but He is also the God of Today! God spoke through Isaiah, "My Word that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER IN THE THING WHERETO I SENT IT." (ISAIAH 55:11.) Looking at a parade of evidences, we can conclude He is the same yesterday, today and forever in every circumstance! Yes! This means He is the God of healing, restoration and renewal for the future and for today!
Through His Word, God invites you to "Come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16.) Here are some factors to know that will help as you prepare for your healing:
1. Faith is needed.
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Preparation for healing requires that you first have faith to believe God is and that He is a "rewarder of those that diligently seek Him." Your faith grows as you spend quality time in prayer and in the Word of God, and especially when you place your name in the scriptures, for emphasis. Many Christians who do this confirm this has helped their faith.
2. Realize Jesus finished His Work at Calvary.
Healing is a finished work of Calvary as far as God is concerned, but you have to do more than hope or wish for it. To have the "finished work" or evidence of the healing, you must RECEIVE it. Peter declares, "By whose stripes ye were healed," (I Peter 2:24.) Healing was and is for you or your family members but if you have not received it, you need to continue to read the healing scriptures again and again until you have memorized them and they are a part of your confession every day.
3. "Everyone who asks, receives."
Jesus stated those words in Matthew 7:7-11. When you pray for healing, Jesus wants you to receive what you asked for because His Word declares, "By whose stripes ye WERE healed." Rewording it can help your faith by quoting "I believe it was through His stripes I WAS HEALED," and then stand firmly on your declaration without wavering.
4. Jesus healed them all.
Since Christ came to do the Father's will, the fact that He HEALED THEM ALL is proof that it is God's will that all be healed. (If it were not God's will for all to be healed, then how did they all get healed?)
5. Stand in your authority.
At all times, you need to stand in the authority Jesus shared with you in Luke 10:19. BELIEVE that you have the authority over ALL the power of the enemy, even Satan's attack of sickness he is trying to put on you. Speak to your sickness to go in Jesus' Name, commanding it to return to the one who sent it. When you speak boldly with authority, in faith, nothing wavering, the sickness will begin to die; your condition will begin to reverse and in time you will see the full manifestation of complete healing.
(NOTE; See previous blog titled, "The Prayer of Authority," September 7, 2007. To 9pen this blog, scroll to the end of this page. See the words "Older Posts" at the end of the page. Press or double click on the words "Older Posts." Wait, and the previous page with blogs will appear. Scroll down on that page to "The Prayer of Authority" and read the article with additional information on Authority.)
Only believe! This is God's Word. It will never change! He promised that His Word would NOT return to Him void, but it would accomplish what it was sent to do. Dare to believe healing is for you today and witness the power of His promise!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Why Prayer is Not Answered - Part 1
God still answers prayer if our relationship is in good standing with Him. If our prayer is not being answered, we only need to ask the Holy Spirit why and then hear His answer well, and obey His word to us.
The following insights tell us why prayer is often not answered:
1. We have been overcome with the cares of life. Needs and pressures of life are with us everyday; yet some people have stepped up to the next level of depending on the Holy Spirit and His strength so that they live above the pressures, --and you can too. Jesus loves you so much that He said He would never leave you nor forsake you. That means you really don't need to be overcome with the cares of life. That means He desires to handle them for you. He knows your way and your struggles. What can you do to live above your cares? Here are some answers:
a. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!" (Colossians 3:16.)
Draw life and strength from the Word of God early in the morning when your mind is fresh and alert, and hold that Word in your heart all day, --one day at a time. Don't allow yourself to worry whether or not you will be able to keep the Word in your heart tomorrow, because tomorrow has not yet come.
b. "Gird up the loins of your mind." (I Peter 1:13.)
This means to take courage (YOU take courage given by the Holy Spirit) in the face of hardships and remember God said He would be with you always. You can choose to worry about your needs or choose to trust God for them. The choice is yours. When you need an answer, He will bring your answer on time, but it will be one day at a time.
c. Set a goal to be an overcomer of that which tries to overcome you.
Think: To be an overcomer, you have to have something to overcome. "They OVERCAME him by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11.) Start today to be an overcomer. Your effort will bring you closer to the Lord, and when you are close to Him, you will notice you have faith to believe for your answers.
d. Remember God will give you His peace.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect PEACE whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3.) Count your blessings for one week and you will recognize His peace is greater than the cares of life.
e. Remember He will give you rest.
"In returning and REST shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15.) When you go to the Lord in prayer consistently in the morning or evening, your confidence in God's promises will grow and your prayer will begin to see answers.
f. Remember He will give you strength.
"But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
(Isaiah 40:31.)
g. Remember God invites you to commit your way to Him and trust.
"COMMIT thy way unto the Lord; TRUST also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm37:5.) Living with the Word of God everyday gives life to everything you do and supernatural strength to stay above the cares of life so that you can believe God for the answers to every prayer.
2. Wrong attitudes. You may not be aware of this, but you change attitudes many times in one day. Sometimes the attitudes develop wrong opinions which in turn rob you of peace. They cloud your faith and when faith is not fed by the Word, it will become diluted with doubts and negative thoughts which will eventually blind you to the power of God's Word. It's good to examine your heart often. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23.) When wrong attitudes have been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, faith will naturally rise again to believe God for the things you discussed with Him.
3. Prayerlessness. This is the greatest reason of all for no answers to prayer.
There's an imaginary channel from your heart to the Throne Room of God, and your prayers travel straight to your heavenly Father. There, God hears your worship and your requests and He desires to give you the desires of your heart. Some people cannot or will not take time to pray so there are many answers to prayer that have not been claimed. For others, their prayer life consists of short "sentence prayers" spoken in generalities with no specific details, yet they wonder why God does not rain down an abundance of specific and detailed blessings on them and their family.
These people usually have many needs and complain that they cannot receive answers. They often have little or no joy or direction in life for employment, promotions or ministry. They have no vision or goals or purpose in life. They have a difficult time making decisions that could lead them into a place of abundance --all because they just don't pray. Their example is taking a toll on their children who are watching the example before them. It is because of slothfulness and indifference to responsibility to care for their own spiritual needs first, then others. They have avoided the call of God to seek Him to know the destiny that God ordained for them. What will happen to them? Who can help them? Usually no one can help them until they see themselves as God sees them, people of prayerlessness.
If you have a tendency to lean toward this lifestyle at times, dare to take hold of your life and seek God again. He is waiting to turn your life around and answer your prayers. It may be that even now there are many answers on hold with your name
on them.
The following insights tell us why prayer is often not answered:
1. We have been overcome with the cares of life. Needs and pressures of life are with us everyday; yet some people have stepped up to the next level of depending on the Holy Spirit and His strength so that they live above the pressures, --and you can too. Jesus loves you so much that He said He would never leave you nor forsake you. That means you really don't need to be overcome with the cares of life. That means He desires to handle them for you. He knows your way and your struggles. What can you do to live above your cares? Here are some answers:
a. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!" (Colossians 3:16.)
Draw life and strength from the Word of God early in the morning when your mind is fresh and alert, and hold that Word in your heart all day, --one day at a time. Don't allow yourself to worry whether or not you will be able to keep the Word in your heart tomorrow, because tomorrow has not yet come.
b. "Gird up the loins of your mind." (I Peter 1:13.)
This means to take courage (YOU take courage given by the Holy Spirit) in the face of hardships and remember God said He would be with you always. You can choose to worry about your needs or choose to trust God for them. The choice is yours. When you need an answer, He will bring your answer on time, but it will be one day at a time.
c. Set a goal to be an overcomer of that which tries to overcome you.
Think: To be an overcomer, you have to have something to overcome. "They OVERCAME him by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of their testimony." (Revelation 12:11.) Start today to be an overcomer. Your effort will bring you closer to the Lord, and when you are close to Him, you will notice you have faith to believe for your answers.
d. Remember God will give you His peace.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect PEACE whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." (Isaiah 26:3.) Count your blessings for one week and you will recognize His peace is greater than the cares of life.
e. Remember He will give you rest.
"In returning and REST shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15.) When you go to the Lord in prayer consistently in the morning or evening, your confidence in God's promises will grow and your prayer will begin to see answers.
f. Remember He will give you strength.
"But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their STRENGTH; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
(Isaiah 40:31.)
g. Remember God invites you to commit your way to Him and trust.
"COMMIT thy way unto the Lord; TRUST also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." (Psalm37:5.) Living with the Word of God everyday gives life to everything you do and supernatural strength to stay above the cares of life so that you can believe God for the answers to every prayer.
2. Wrong attitudes. You may not be aware of this, but you change attitudes many times in one day. Sometimes the attitudes develop wrong opinions which in turn rob you of peace. They cloud your faith and when faith is not fed by the Word, it will become diluted with doubts and negative thoughts which will eventually blind you to the power of God's Word. It's good to examine your heart often. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23.) When wrong attitudes have been cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, faith will naturally rise again to believe God for the things you discussed with Him.
3. Prayerlessness. This is the greatest reason of all for no answers to prayer.
There's an imaginary channel from your heart to the Throne Room of God, and your prayers travel straight to your heavenly Father. There, God hears your worship and your requests and He desires to give you the desires of your heart. Some people cannot or will not take time to pray so there are many answers to prayer that have not been claimed. For others, their prayer life consists of short "sentence prayers" spoken in generalities with no specific details, yet they wonder why God does not rain down an abundance of specific and detailed blessings on them and their family.
These people usually have many needs and complain that they cannot receive answers. They often have little or no joy or direction in life for employment, promotions or ministry. They have no vision or goals or purpose in life. They have a difficult time making decisions that could lead them into a place of abundance --all because they just don't pray. Their example is taking a toll on their children who are watching the example before them. It is because of slothfulness and indifference to responsibility to care for their own spiritual needs first, then others. They have avoided the call of God to seek Him to know the destiny that God ordained for them. What will happen to them? Who can help them? Usually no one can help them until they see themselves as God sees them, people of prayerlessness.
If you have a tendency to lean toward this lifestyle at times, dare to take hold of your life and seek God again. He is waiting to turn your life around and answer your prayers. It may be that even now there are many answers on hold with your name
on them.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Why Prayer is Not Answered - Part 2
Have you ever prayed for an urgent need but did not receive an answer? If so, it's time to look at the possible reasons why earnest prayer was not enough.
The Word of God tells us, "If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7.) This seems to be a very clear answer. Every believer feels he is abiding in Christ, but there are nuggets of truth here to consider. To "abide" means to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship,to agree to remain steadfast or faithful and to continue without change. This is a picture of truly abiding in Christ! This scripture also tells us "and if MY WORDS abide in you" THEN ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
When God's Word abides, stays and remains in us the Word becomes life! If you have been consistent in reading the Word, it is consistently revealing the power of God to your inner man and consistently building confidence in God's promises, provisions and leadership, and your faith is growing. When faith is growing, truth is becoming steadfast and the scriptures are coming alive. It is then that you feel you can believe God for anything...and God honors that faith with His answers to prayer!
Faith grows through abiding in the Word and meditating on the Word until the full impact of His Word becomes strong in the core of your being! That's the inside story of truly abiding in Christ. That is why some believers' prayers are answered more than others. God has no favorites but He does show favor to those who abide close enough to feel the impact of His Word such as John 15:7.
There are other reasons why prayer is not ansered:
1. SIN. Sin is disobedience to the known Word of God. The wages of sin is spiritual death or separation from our relationship with the Lord, therefore sin will prevent answers to prayer. We do not sin in general terms so we cannot ask, "Lord, just forgive me for anything and everything!" No, we sin in specific ways, so we must acknowledge and confess the specific sins we know we have committed, and then ask for forgiveness.
2. UNFORGIVENESS. People who have been wounded often find it difficult to forgive and allow healing to restore them. The Word of God is our Guide in all things. The scripture says, "If ye forgive, your heavenly father will forgive you, but if you forgive not, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you." (Matthew 6:14-15.)If a person has not forgiven others and has not been forgiven by God, he will not be able to enter heaven. Doctors are now discovering that sicknesses (even cancer) are often caused by a wounded heart. Unforgiveness invites infirmities and weakness in the physical body. Notice Jesus did not suggest you had to pretend nothing happened or that you were not hurt. He just said forgive and you will be forgiven. The deeper truth here is that when we truly forgive, we have given the issue to the Lord. When He has received it unconditionally from us, then He will begin to work on everyone else who was involved in the matter, and it will be solved.
A few months ago, a Christian couple had a big misunderstanding and their discussion became so heated that the husband stormed out of the home angrily, got in his car and while driving he was in a head-on collision and died. When he died, he appeared at the gates of heaven but Jesus would not let him enter. "Why?" he asked. "I've served you diligently all my life, Lord." But Jesus told him, "You had an argument with your wife and did not forgive her. You cannot enter here with unforgiveness. Go back! Make it right!" And life returned into the man's body. When he gained consciousness and saw his wife with tears, standing by his side, he immediately asked her to forgive him and they were reconciled. Later, this man wrote this true testimony for the world to read and added: "If you forgive, your heavenly father will forgive you, but if you forgive not, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you. (Matthew 6:14-15. The decision is yours." If you feel there is unforgiveness in your heart, obey the Word and forgive so that your heavenly Father will forgive you and your prayers can be answered!
3. IGNORING THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Jesus to lead us into all truth and to bring growth and development in our walk with God. Sometimes we pray "Lord, use me. Let me have an assignment to work for you." Some people forget their prayer quickly, but the Holy Spirit doesn't. He watches for an opportunity for you to be blessed by having a part in Kingdom work! When the Holy Spirit then begins to put a need before you and prompts you to do what He asks, but you ignore His prompting, you have grieved Him. The first one or two times you did not obey that prompting, you may have felt something like a "prick" in your heart, reminding you that you did not obey. The next time He would give you an assignment, you may not have felt the prick but you knew something was not right because your prayers were not being answered. Return to your altar! Repent! Ask the Father to forgive you for Jesus'sake and ask Him for another assignment; then be sure that you do not ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit again but do what He put in you heart. When you obey again, you will notice your prayers will begin to be answered again.
4. UNBELIEF AND DOUBT. Unbelief is a sign that a person does not believe that God means what He says. Doubt is usually an honest question causing a person to desire more informaion or clarification. Doubts can always be resolved by consistent reading of the Word of God and prayer because the Holy Spirit came to teach us all things and He will teach you as you read the Word and pray. Remember: "If we ask anything according to His Will, He heareth us." We know He came to teach us, so we only need to ask and He will help/enable us to understand truth. As truth is revealed, we will have faith to believe for the answers to prayer.
5.BEING OUT OF GOD's WILL. The peace of God is always the predominent factor that let's a child of God know he is in the Will of God. When you feel troubled while pursing a specific plan, you will usually learn quickly that you did not inquire if it was God's will for you or not and usually everything that could go wrong will go wrong.
Getting ahead of God instead of waiting for His timing, unholy relationships that would take you away from your experience with God and/or being unequally yoked together with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14), or misplacing scriptures in order to find a way to fulfll ungodly plans, will only lead to darkness of soul and remove your peace. If you find yourself in one of these situations, return to the Lord. Repent! Ask for forgiveness and then do the will of God that your prayer be not hindered!
Many years ago, my Mother had a friend who had a very good marriage. But one day this friend met another man who swept her off her feet and she contemplated divorcing her husband and remarrying. My Mother show her from scripture exactly what God's Word taught: "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth...." (I Corinthians 7:39.) but she would not listen to counseling. In the meantime it had not rained in Miami for many months and the drought was severe. One day my Mother's friend said she prayed if it would rain on a Thursday, she would know she would have God's permission to divorce her husband and marry her new friend. Guess what! After many months of drought, it did rain on Thursday so the friend divorced her husband and married the new man. From that day, there was no peace in her heart but guilt. In the end she did repent but she lived in sadness until she went home to be with the Lord. Being out of God's will, will alwys hinder the faith needed to believe God for answers to prayer.
Watch for signs that might help you know why some of your prayers are not being answered. The Word of God has stood true through centuries, "Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you!" Many answers are still waiting for God's people! Your answer is still coming!_________________________________________________
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know...why these anxious human beings rush around and worry so!"
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be...that they have no heavenly Father such as cares for you and me!" He careth for you! Dare to believe!
The Word of God tells us, "If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:7.) This seems to be a very clear answer. Every believer feels he is abiding in Christ, but there are nuggets of truth here to consider. To "abide" means to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship,to agree to remain steadfast or faithful and to continue without change. This is a picture of truly abiding in Christ! This scripture also tells us "and if MY WORDS abide in you" THEN ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
When God's Word abides, stays and remains in us the Word becomes life! If you have been consistent in reading the Word, it is consistently revealing the power of God to your inner man and consistently building confidence in God's promises, provisions and leadership, and your faith is growing. When faith is growing, truth is becoming steadfast and the scriptures are coming alive. It is then that you feel you can believe God for anything...and God honors that faith with His answers to prayer!
Faith grows through abiding in the Word and meditating on the Word until the full impact of His Word becomes strong in the core of your being! That's the inside story of truly abiding in Christ. That is why some believers' prayers are answered more than others. God has no favorites but He does show favor to those who abide close enough to feel the impact of His Word such as John 15:7.
There are other reasons why prayer is not ansered:
1. SIN. Sin is disobedience to the known Word of God. The wages of sin is spiritual death or separation from our relationship with the Lord, therefore sin will prevent answers to prayer. We do not sin in general terms so we cannot ask, "Lord, just forgive me for anything and everything!" No, we sin in specific ways, so we must acknowledge and confess the specific sins we know we have committed, and then ask for forgiveness.
2. UNFORGIVENESS. People who have been wounded often find it difficult to forgive and allow healing to restore them. The Word of God is our Guide in all things. The scripture says, "If ye forgive, your heavenly father will forgive you, but if you forgive not, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you." (Matthew 6:14-15.)If a person has not forgiven others and has not been forgiven by God, he will not be able to enter heaven. Doctors are now discovering that sicknesses (even cancer) are often caused by a wounded heart. Unforgiveness invites infirmities and weakness in the physical body. Notice Jesus did not suggest you had to pretend nothing happened or that you were not hurt. He just said forgive and you will be forgiven. The deeper truth here is that when we truly forgive, we have given the issue to the Lord. When He has received it unconditionally from us, then He will begin to work on everyone else who was involved in the matter, and it will be solved.
A few months ago, a Christian couple had a big misunderstanding and their discussion became so heated that the husband stormed out of the home angrily, got in his car and while driving he was in a head-on collision and died. When he died, he appeared at the gates of heaven but Jesus would not let him enter. "Why?" he asked. "I've served you diligently all my life, Lord." But Jesus told him, "You had an argument with your wife and did not forgive her. You cannot enter here with unforgiveness. Go back! Make it right!" And life returned into the man's body. When he gained consciousness and saw his wife with tears, standing by his side, he immediately asked her to forgive him and they were reconciled. Later, this man wrote this true testimony for the world to read and added: "If you forgive, your heavenly father will forgive you, but if you forgive not, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you. (Matthew 6:14-15. The decision is yours." If you feel there is unforgiveness in your heart, obey the Word and forgive so that your heavenly Father will forgive you and your prayers can be answered!
3. IGNORING THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Jesus to lead us into all truth and to bring growth and development in our walk with God. Sometimes we pray "Lord, use me. Let me have an assignment to work for you." Some people forget their prayer quickly, but the Holy Spirit doesn't. He watches for an opportunity for you to be blessed by having a part in Kingdom work! When the Holy Spirit then begins to put a need before you and prompts you to do what He asks, but you ignore His prompting, you have grieved Him. The first one or two times you did not obey that prompting, you may have felt something like a "prick" in your heart, reminding you that you did not obey. The next time He would give you an assignment, you may not have felt the prick but you knew something was not right because your prayers were not being answered. Return to your altar! Repent! Ask the Father to forgive you for Jesus'sake and ask Him for another assignment; then be sure that you do not ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit again but do what He put in you heart. When you obey again, you will notice your prayers will begin to be answered again.
4. UNBELIEF AND DOUBT. Unbelief is a sign that a person does not believe that God means what He says. Doubt is usually an honest question causing a person to desire more informaion or clarification. Doubts can always be resolved by consistent reading of the Word of God and prayer because the Holy Spirit came to teach us all things and He will teach you as you read the Word and pray. Remember: "If we ask anything according to His Will, He heareth us." We know He came to teach us, so we only need to ask and He will help/enable us to understand truth. As truth is revealed, we will have faith to believe for the answers to prayer.
5.BEING OUT OF GOD's WILL. The peace of God is always the predominent factor that let's a child of God know he is in the Will of God. When you feel troubled while pursing a specific plan, you will usually learn quickly that you did not inquire if it was God's will for you or not and usually everything that could go wrong will go wrong.
Getting ahead of God instead of waiting for His timing, unholy relationships that would take you away from your experience with God and/or being unequally yoked together with unbelievers (II Corinthians 6:14), or misplacing scriptures in order to find a way to fulfll ungodly plans, will only lead to darkness of soul and remove your peace. If you find yourself in one of these situations, return to the Lord. Repent! Ask for forgiveness and then do the will of God that your prayer be not hindered!
Many years ago, my Mother had a friend who had a very good marriage. But one day this friend met another man who swept her off her feet and she contemplated divorcing her husband and remarrying. My Mother show her from scripture exactly what God's Word taught: "The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth...." (I Corinthians 7:39.) but she would not listen to counseling. In the meantime it had not rained in Miami for many months and the drought was severe. One day my Mother's friend said she prayed if it would rain on a Thursday, she would know she would have God's permission to divorce her husband and marry her new friend. Guess what! After many months of drought, it did rain on Thursday so the friend divorced her husband and married the new man. From that day, there was no peace in her heart but guilt. In the end she did repent but she lived in sadness until she went home to be with the Lord. Being out of God's will, will alwys hinder the faith needed to believe God for answers to prayer.
Watch for signs that might help you know why some of your prayers are not being answered. The Word of God has stood true through centuries, "Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you!" Many answers are still waiting for God's people! Your answer is still coming!_________________________________________________
Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
"I should really like to know...why these anxious human beings rush around and worry so!"
Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be...that they have no heavenly Father such as cares for you and me!" He careth for you! Dare to believe!
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