A Closer Walk With God
Principles Of Prayer - Cont.
Having previously discussed prayer in general, let's now turn and look at some of the obstacles to prayer as we continue this lesson. One such obstacle is unconfessed sin, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear" - Psa 66:18. The basis for prayer rests upon our being in fellowship with Him; such fellowship is broken if we do not confess our sins to Him!
Another obstacle is improper treatment of others. How we treat others has a bearing upon whether God will hear our prayers! For example, how we treat the poor - Psa 41:1-3 "Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him; the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health." Another example, how one treats his friend - Mt 5:23-24 "So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." One more example, how a husband treats his wife - 1 Pe 3:7 "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." We must correct our relationships with others (if possible) before we can expect God to hear our prayers! Especially if we desire to receive forgiveness for our sins! - Mt 6:14-15 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."; 18:21-22 "Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."
Finally, it is important to bear in mind that God answers prayer in various ways... We also need to note some of the ways God answers our prayers. One such answer would be "request granted". God may answer "Yes" , and grant the petitions we ask of Him. Such will be the case the more we try to do His Will in our lives - 1 Jn 3:22 "and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him."
"Request granted, but not yet". God may grant our request, but in time and according to His purpose for our lives. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" - Ecc 3:1. So we may think God is saying "No", when He is really saying "Yes, but wait"
"Request granted, but not as you might expect". Sometimes God says "Yes", but answers it in way differently that we anticipated. Remember, God's thoughts and methods are often much different than ours - Isa 55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Like asking God for strength and perseverance He may give us trials to bear, which in turn develops the virtues we prayed for! We should be careful and not dictate to God how to answer our prayers. Limit the "how" and we might be limiting the "result". For example, the way some pray for the sick, they limit God as to how He might restore them.
"Request denied". Often God says "No". But we must trust that God, who knows all and what is best, would do so only if granting our request might not be for our good - He 12:5-11 "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." We may not fully understand, but we can still fully trust Him! - Hab 3:17-19 "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." Especially in light of the promise in 1 Co 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
The ability to pray to God and receive answers in our lives is truly one of the greatest blessings we can have as children of God! Hopefully, understanding and applying the principles discussed in this lesson will ensure greater success in having our prayers answered. Our next lesson will deal with "The Practice Of Prayer", offering suggestions on the when, with whom, how and what of prayer.
The following are some questions to stimulate your thinking.
Do you find it easy or difficult to pray?
Do you believe in the power of God to answer prayer?
Should you be disappointed when it appears that God has answered your prayer with a "No"?
Are you spending time every day devoted to prayer?
