Unlocking the Mystery of prayer

UNANSWERED PRAYERS Your marriage Your children Your job Your chronic pain Your incurable disease

“Ask what you will and it will be given to you” “…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”

Why don’t I have all my prayers answered?

Selfish prayers will hinder First Reason Selfish prayers will hinder God’s answer Lord, can you allow us to win our football game? Lord, can you get me a parking spot close to the door? Lord, can you buy me a Mercedes? Lord, can you give me a sunny day for my picnic?

James 4:2-3 The Message Bible You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way. James 4:2-3 The Message Bible

Unconfessed sin will hinder God’s answer Second Reason Unconfessed sin will hinder God’s answer If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:10

Confessing your sin is a If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9 Confessing your sin is a game changer!

Neglecting the poor and the marginalized will hinder God’s answer Third Reason Neglecting the poor and the marginalized will hinder God’s answer Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

Prayers contradictory to God’s word will hinder God’s answer Fourth Reason Prayers contradictory to God’s word will hinder God’s answer This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Being faithless hinders God’s answer Fifth Reason Being faithless hinders God’s answer If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5-8

Sometimes God just says “No” Sixth Reason Sometimes God just says “No” “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me…Luke 22:42a …yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42b An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Luke 22:43