My House Will Be Called A House Of Prayer
Matthew 21:13
God is calling every member of his household back to the foundation of prayer, which launches every awesome manifestation of God’s power. Our response to his call is critical.
Space rockets have lots of thrust power to take off. Asteroids generate a lot of frictional power trying to enter the earth’s atmosphere. Volcanoes can blast with a force of up to ten thousand pounds per square foot. But all of this power combined cannot match the power of a prayer whispered from the lips of a child of God. God is longing for us to communicate with him.
STORY:
I remember one time I was praying for someone’s marriage. I began swinging my arms and speaking loudly with a voice of authority and victory. It was a different type of prayer, that's why I still remember it today. Something swept over me that I could definitely feel all over my body and in my spirit. I remember thinking something has just happened in the spirit realm and I was confident that things were going to be mended in that marriage. Latter this was confirmed to be true.
Prayer is mankind’s greatest privilege, but it has been diminished and underestimated by most in the Christian community. Unfortunately today’s modern day Christian doesn’t have a prayer life and if they do, it’s probably very miniscule. People just don’t take the time to talk to their creator. Most Christians can count on their fingers (on one hand) the minutes they spend in prayer a day. It really isn’t so much about the lack of time spent in prayer as it is the lack of passion for deep close communication with God. Children of God, God longs to hear from you. Many times I’ll be waiting for my wife to get home after she has been gone all day. I miss her when she’s not around. I want to see her face and listen to her voice. How many times has God stayed up late waiting for you to come home to him? He’s staring at the door and waiting for you to open it. God loves you, he wants to hear from you and he wants to spend time with you today.
There certainly seems to be a lot of prayer requests everywhere you turn. Pray for me. Pray for this and that. Lift me up in prayer. Pray for my family, pray for my children and their children. So why aren’t there more miracles surrounding the Christian community? God’s miraculous power should be everywhere you turn. Let’s examine prayer a little closer.
Statement #1
There is no limit on what can be accomplished by praying people.
Now that’s a nice statement to make. I believe what that statement says, but it’s also an extremely general statement. So now let me be more specific.
Statement #2
There is no limit on what can be accomplished by a born-again, fire baptized, Holy Spirit sensitive, bible believing, faith-filled, doubt crushing, flesh crucifying, thankful, Holy Ghost energized, mountain moving, disciplined and determined praying child of God.
The difference in those two statements could be the difference between a powerful, victorious, fervent pray life and a dismal, dysfunctional and disillusioned prayer life. I believe this is why many people are praying but not a lot is being accomplished.
We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to position our prayers to be heard and then surrender the results of those prayers to God’s grace and Christ’s atonement.
Prayer is not only what we are called and commanded to do, but we should have a desire and passion for it deep within our hearts. Here is a collection of verses from the bookmarker I have written called PRAYER IS.
PRAYER IS
Prayer is talking to God.
Prayer is listening to God.
Prayer is seeking God.
Prayer connects you and God.
Prayer is learning from God.
Prayer is God changing us.
Prayer is God healing us.
Prayer touches God’s heart.
Prayer is God touching our heart.
Prayer changes everything.
Prayer gives us God’s plan.
Prayer gives us God’s thoughts.
Prayer is receiving God’s love.
Prayer releases God’s power from within you.
Prayer is fresh revelation from God.
Prayer sends out angels.
Prayer is climbing in the arms of God.
Prayer moves the hand of God.
Prayer breaks the yoke of bondage.
Prayer pulls down strongholds.
Prayer cast out demons.
Prayer saves souls.
Prayer changes your attitude.
Prayer humbles you.
Prayer is God loving you.
Prayer is you loving God.
Prayer changes you.
Prayer changes your future.
Prayer reveals God’s mighty strength.
Prayer will give you rest.
Prayer strengthens you.
Prayer captures God’s heart.
Prayer gives God control.
Prayer unites the church.
Prayer charges forward.
Prayer shows us the way.
PRAYER IS was written by Eric Johnson
(See the BOOKMARKER page at the end of this book for additional ministry resources.)
Folks, we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of passionate, effective, mountain moving prayer. Everything that God is going to accomplishing through you is going to begin with you on your knees, humbled and surrendered before him. Prayer is the most humbling thing you’ll ever do. God loves when we bow down before him and surrender our lives, our goals and our dreams to him.
You know what God does to humble people? HE EXALTS THEM (Luke 14:11). The word exalt means to rise in rank, status, character and to honor. It also means to increase in effectiveness or intensity. When God increases your intensity and effectiveness you and everyone else around you will notice the difference. The change in you will be undeniable.
I want God’s supernatural power to manifest itself in this physical world and it begins with us on our knees, humbly before him.
Our prayers show God that we don’t have ALL the answers. It also shows God that we don’t have ANY answers. Prayer tells God we need him and that he is worthy of the time we spend with him. Prayer is more than a physical position, it’s a spiritual positioning. Prayer is God directing our hearts. God knows if you’re praying selfish, self-centered prayers or if you’re asking God to glorify HIMSELF through your prayer. Prayer shows God how much you trust him, after all what good is your faith without any trust behind it. When you trust someone you’re usually putting something on the line that you could lose. It could be time, money, friendship, your immediate safety or even your life. My point is trust takes a chance. Faith with no real trust behind it is just religion. Prayer let’s God know that you want him to impart the fullness of his character into your situation. Prayer is our heart telling God that we want to be with him and know him better.
SCRIPTURES ON PRAYER
1. We have complete confidence that God hears and answers our prayers when we seek his face. God will answer your request and desires when we seek him with all our heart.
I John 5:14-15
2. Pray in your private secret place to the Lord of the universe and what God sees you do in your secret prayer time will be rewarded openly before others. Matthew 6:5-6
3. God would never tell us a lie or change his mind regarding a promise he’s given us. God will follow through with every promise he has made to us. Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19
4. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done for you. John 15:7
5. Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another so you can be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of God’s righteous children has tremendous power. James 5:16
CALLING OUT TO GOD IN JESUS NAME
1. Jesus said: The TRUTH is, you can go directly to my Father and ask him and he will grant your request because you use MY NAME (Jesus). John 16:23
2. We have a great High Priest who has gone to Heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. Our High Priest understands our weaknesses for he faced all of the same temptations we do yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious Father. There we will receive his mercy and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:14-16
3. If two of you shall ask, touch and agree in prayer, it shall be done for you through my Father in Heaven. Matthew 18:19
4. Jesus is able to save anyone who comes to God through him, because he is always ready to intercede for us to his Father. Hebrews 7:24-26
5. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin, but if you do sin, there is someone who speaks to the Father in our defense. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the perfect, righteous sacrifice for our imperfect, unrighteous sin nature. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of THE WHOLE WORLD. I John 2:1-2
6. It is Christ that died, but he has also risen and he is at the right hand of God interceding for us. Romans 8:34
7. Jesus makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27
8. Through Jesus we have access by one Spirit to the Father." Ephesians 2:18
9. I encourage you to prayer for all people and every situation as the Holy Spirit leads you. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God who wishes that everyone would receive Christ as Lord. For there is one God and one mediator between God and us, and he is Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for the entire world. I Timothy 2:1-8
10. Listen to me, anyone who believes in me, the works that you see me do, you will do also and greater works than these shall you do; because I go to my Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you all ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:12-14
11. I have chosen you and ordained you to go and produce good fruit and God will help you do this by granting your request by the authority of my name. John 15:16
Here is what God says through his chosen prophets in the Old Testament.
1. Call unto me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty wonders, which are beyond your comprehension. Jeremiah 33:3
2. If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
3. Before they cry out to me I will hear them. While they are still speaking I will answer them.
Isaiah 65:24
Sometimes you might feel distant from God, but he’s not distant from you. Why would all these scriptures be in the bible if God did not want to communicate with us? God’s ear is pressed to our lips, waiting for us to speak to him. We in turn should do the same thing because God is still speaking to his people today. He is a master communicator, teacher, counselor and listener. I hope this dismisses any doubts that you have because God wants to hear from you? Get the walls of bitterness, rage, condemnation, guilt, judgment, pride, confusion, self-righteousness and anger out of the way, so God can hear you and you can hear from him. Jesus said,
"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, anyone who seeks will find me and anyone who knocks the door will be opened to them. If your child asked you for some bread, would you give them a stone?
If your child asked you for a fish, would you give them a snake?
If you then, being from this evil world, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:7-11
STORY - My Humble Walk With God
One time I was walking into work at Chrysler Corporation’s World Headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was about a five minute walk from the parking lot to the front door. I had hurt my foot the previous day and I realized how bad it was when I started making the long walk. I started praying,
“Lord, I believe you can heal my foot right now. There is absolutely no reason for me to have this limp. Lord you know I serve you with all my heart. In the name of Jesus be healed.”
I continued on my long walk into work, but God didn’t heal my foot. I thought to myself, I’ll just be patient because God doesn’t operate in our time frame. I sat in my chair at work and got some relief for a while. When I got up and started to walk again the pain was still there. So I went and prayed over my foot again. I sat down and prayed, believed and I said,” I was tired of this hurting me. God I’m a born-again Christian why aren’t you healing me?” I stood up on my feet and suddenly I became frozen stiff with pain. I COULDN’T MOVE! There was incredible pain in my back and now I couldn’t move EITHER OF MY LEGS!
What was going on here? I could not move a muscle!
I stood there for a while, because that’s all I could do. Then I felt something begin to grow in my spirit. A warm tingling sensation started to radiate out into my body. Was God healing me? No, I still couldn’t move. Then I realized God wasn’t healing me, HE WAS TEACHING ME! I felt God in my spirit saying to me,
“Don’t tell me when and how to heal you. Don’t give me all the reasons you deserve to be healed. The only reason you’ll ever walk again, is by my grace and mercy. Do you even comprehend who you’re talking to? I see your heart. I know exactly WHO YOU ARE, but you don’t know completely WHO I AM. But I am about to teach you something you will never forget.”
I began to realize that I was lacking a very powerful attribute in my request, it was HUMILITY. When I was asking God to heal me, I kept saying the word “I” continually. I shouted to God, “I’ve done this, I’ve done that, Lord I don’t deserve.” My focus was on me and my pain and not on what the Lord Jesus Christ had done for me and my pain.
While I was standing there frozen in pain, God gave me an accelerated course in HUMILITY 101. I realized God does not owe me anything. God is good to us because he loves us. His grace and mercy extend farther than we deserve. He is the God that governs the universe. He’s the designer and creator of everything. I was talking to God like he was a friend of mine who just happened to have the ability to heal. I didn’t come to him with fear and trembling, with reverence and humility. I should have come to him with thanksgiving because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross for me. I didn’t submit myself to his will by saying, “Lord regardless of my hurt foot, I’m here to serve and to glorify you today.” God knows what we need before we even ask him for it (Matthew 6:32). God loves us and he doesn’t want us sick and in pain. That’s why he sent Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for us.
I knew God’s healing power was completely available to me, but I was praying the wrong way, with the wrong motives and attitude. I forgot who I was talking to. I needed to humble myself before the mighty hand of God. I had positioned my prayer to fail because of the manner in which I released it to him. Telling God everything I was doing for him was not an effective way to tap into his power. Reminding myself about everything God’s done for me and thanking him for it is a much better way to start out in prayer. So that’s what I started doing. I learned that day that humility and thanksgiving when combined together get God’s immediate attention. Seeking God’s face and not just his hand will humble you right into a passionate and more effective prayer life. Maybe our prayers should be more like this sometimes:
Lord I’m not here to ask you for anything. I’m just here to listen to you and to be in your presence. I’m just here to worship you and to glorify your name. I’m not here to seek your hand of blessing; instead I’m here to seek your face of love and to hear from you Lord. I’m here to seek and to serve you. Is there anything I can do for you today Lord? I surrender my life to you and I desire to understand your character in a deeper way. Lord, glorify yourself through me today.
That’s a GOD-centered prayer not a ME-centered prayer. We can’t forget who we’re speaking to when we pray. Our God is the Lord of all creation. He is a universe maker and has set each star in place with his creative finger tip. He stretched forth his hands and said, “This is how large the universe will be.” He fashioned a beautiful earth for us to live in. He told the oceans you’ll go this far and no farther and he pushed the mountains up with the palms of his hands. God made all the beautiful animals and people. He made it ALL, he owns it ALL and he controls it ALL.
In the book of Exodus, Moses began questioning God’s wisdom and direction for his life and God told him, “Who made man’s mouth? WAS IT NOT ME!” Once again we can’t forget who we’re talking to. God is God, and that’s good enough for me. He deserves all honor, reverence, glory and praise.
Now back to my hurt foot story. As I said earlier, I went from having a simple hurt foot to being completely immobilized with pain in both legs and my back. I COULD NOT MOVE! God had my complete attention. I knew I had messed up. I began thanking him for my salvation, his goodness and his grace. I thanked him for being patient with me as I learned more about him, his character attributes and his love. Then it happened at that very moment! I WAS HEALED from head to toe! IMMEDIATELY I WAS HEALED! God is gracious, merciful, patient, loving and all powerful! Tears began to roll down my face. Little old insignificant me had just connected with a universe creator. I knew I would never forget this moment or never be the same again.
God knows we have issues and fall short of the mark many times. He knows we are made from the dust of the ground. God knows how much we’re able to comprehend with our little minds. But fortunately HE’S COMPLETELY IN LOVE WITH US, he’s patient with us and he’s compassionate. God loves when we remain teachable and willing to grow under his grace.
HUMBLY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6
Humility is severely underrated in today’s modern Christian world. It’s a word that we use all the time but many Christians do not put deep enough actions behind that word. Many times in the bible when people experienced God or and angelic presence, they fell down or bowed down and hid their faces. They humbled themselves in the presence of God. The Holy Spirit is activated in our soul when we humble ourselves before God.
Humility is the supernatural key that unlocks everything you will ever receive from God. Humility should be the prominent characteristic that leads us into prayer, praise and worship. You can’t do any of those things without being humble. Try as you may, but you won’t accomplish much without humility. A humble heart and contrite spirit is an atmosphere where God thrives. When we submit ourselves (soul, mind and body) to what the spirit of God wants, then God can flourish in that humility, surrender and submission.
Jesus told a story about two men who came to church. One had a self-righteous spirit of pride in him and the other humbled himself before the Lord. Jesus told this story about people who were confident in their own righteousness, and spend their time criticizing and judging others.
“Two men went to church to pray, one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like that tax collector over there. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to Heaven, he pointed to his heart and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. Anyone who exalts themselves will be humbled but anyone who humbles themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
God will exalt his people who humble themselves before him. Remember the definition of exalt means to rise in rank, character or status; or to increase in effectiveness or intensity. Everyone who goes into prayer with a humble heart, sincere, surrendered, listening, teachable and waiting on God; they will walk away different, EXALTED. One drop of humility can release a tidal wave of God’s grace. No one walks away from humble prayer unchanged.
HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB?
Job 1:8
Many of you know the story of the man named Job in the bible. He had to suffer through the death of his children and suffer in his flesh with open sores. He was tormented in his mind and suffered everyday. Near the end of his story Job let his words fly out of his mouth. He is angry and he’s venting. His mouth has taken on a mind of its own. He is no longer in control of his words. His feelings and emotions are speaking whatever comes to his lips.
Job opens his mouth with empty talk, without knowledge he multiplies his words. Job 35:16
In chapter 36:5-7,10 & 20 God speaks to Job.
God's voice thunders in marvelous ways, he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, fall on the earth, and to the rain, shower and be a mighty downpour. So that all the people he has made may know his work. The breath of God produces ice and the broad waters become frozen. Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
Job 38: 1-5; 8 & 9;11 & 12;16,18 & 19. 21, 31, 34
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm, "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man, I will question you and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me if you understand exactly how I did it. Who stretched a measuring line across it and marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb? Who made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness. Who told the oceans you may come this far but no farther. Here is where your mighty waves shall stop. Have you ever given orders to the morning sky or shown the dawn where it will rest? Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the universe? Tell me if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Surely you know, for you have lived so many years! Can you spin the starry constellations with your fingertips? Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover the earth with a flood of water?”
Please read Job 39 where God continues to humble Job by revealing all the wonders of his creation to him.
Job 40:1-14
Then the Lord says to Job. "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"
Here comes the part where Job is overwhelmed with humility.
Then Job answered the LORD, "I am unworthy…how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke words without wisdom but I will say no more."
Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm, "Brace yourself like a man, I will question you and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's and can your voice thunder like mine? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud person and bring them low, look at every proud person and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
Job 41:10, 11 & 34
Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under Heaven belongs to me. I look down on all that are haughty; I am king over all that are proud."
Finally, in Job chapter 42:1-6, God has Job right where he wants him, humbled before him.
Job replied to the LORD, "I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted.” You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak, I will question you, and you shall answer me.' “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
When we are humbled before God, it’s like opening a gate to a dam. God’s spirit is in us and it contains his anointing, power, character, protection, provision, blessings, love, peace and much more. Humility opens the gateway between the supernatural world and the physical world. It all begins with us on our knees, humbly before him and seeking his face. God is just waiting patiently for us to come to our senses. He’s waiting for us to fully trust in him, surrender to him and humble ourselves before him. Then he can reveal himself to us in a much deeper way. It will always be through humility that God completes his work in us.
God transforms all our character traits when we turn them over to him.
Our HUMILITY under God’s supernatural touch becomes EXALTATION.
Our SURRENDER under God’s supernatural touch becomes POWER and VICTORY.
Our SUBMISSION under God’s supernatural touch becomes clear DIRECTION for our life.
Our LOVE under God’s supernatural touch becomes transformed, strengthened, unconditional, selfless, generous and patient.
God turbo-charges those God given attributes in us when we surrender ourselves to him and seek after him. The world will tell you that these attributes are weak, but God says they are strong and powerful. God laughs at what the world calls power, strength and wisdom.
The wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight. I Corinthians 3:19
POWERFUL PRAYERS
Prayer is one of the most selfless things you can do. It demands sincerity, surrender and humility. All pride must leave when you pray. Prayer can be rendered completely worthless, dry and mundane when we do it with the wrong attitude, motives and spirit.
We must prepare ourselves to be HEARD BY God.
Then we must prepare ourselves to HEAR FROM God.
Finally we must prepare ourselves to RECEIVE FROM God.
Prayer is the spiritual surrender of your heart, mind and soul to God. It’s only when we surrender to him can God minister, change, strengthen and heal us. God loves when we pray to him. God told Solomon, “I’ll give you anything you ask for.” Solomon only asked God for wisdom to lead his people. God not only gave Solomon wisdom, but he gave him great riches and power beyond any one else in the world. Solomon had the right spirit before he prayed. God knew he could trust Solomon.
When we trust God, then our prayers have powerful potential.
When God trust us, then his power is released through us.
Getting on your knees and bowing down before God tells him you value the relationship between him and you. Prayer is the evidence to God that you love him. It displays to God that you need him and are completely dependent on his instruction, advice, provision and counsel.
God knows we are only just beginning to understand who he is. God reveals who he is through the Holy Spirit that lives on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit can speak clearly to us when we humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God and surrender ourselves to his leading.
HINDERED PRAYERS
So why isn’t God answering your prayers? That’s a question you’ll have to ask him. It could be any number of things. I knew someone who has attended church their whole life say,
“God has never answered any of my prayers.”
What a sad way to think of yourself and God. I would really take a closer look at my relationship with God if that was the case. That statement just blew me away. I couldn’t even process that statement. Maybe that person wasn’t saved. Maybe that person needed to pray,” I REPENT LORD”, and then God would have definitely heard and answered that prayer for them. If they were a Christian maybe they let a lifetime of confusion, pain and misunderstanding concerning the power of sin, render them ineffective and distant from God.
God doesn’t answer prayer because you are a member of a church. God doesn’t answer prayer based on the amount of money you give to the church. God doesn’t answer prayer based on everything YOU DO for the church. He doesn’t answer prayer based on how holy YOU LOOK in front of people. God will surrender his power to you when you surrender your life to him. God knows when you’re sold out, surrendered and seeking him. He’s been waiting a lifetime for you to get to that point. He knows our heart and he knows when we are genuinely taking steps to learn, change and surrender.
From a military standpoint, one of the most strategic things you can do is to sever your opponent’s lines of communication. Our connection and daily communication with God is vital. Prayer is so important that God tells us to do it continually.
Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17
There are no unanswered prayers. God answers prayers.
• Your prayer may be hindered by you or the person you’re praying for.
• You might not be praying the right prayer that God wants to answer. What I mean is, you might have your priorities mixed up when it comes to the prayer that is needed for a particular situation. Just because people ask for prayer for a particular situation doesn’t mean that is the specific spiritual priority at that time for them. God may be trying to accomplish something completely different in that person’s life through a trial they’re going through. God is trying to direct your prayer through the Holy Spirit…if you’ll let him.
• The answer might not be what you expected.
• The answer might not be in the time frame you desired.
God always answers prayers. It may not be in the form we envisioned, but if it aligns with his will; if we do not doubt, stand firm in our faith and thought life, then God will hear and answer because he said he would.
First of all God WANTS to answer our prayers.
Second, he CAN answer our prayers.
Finally, he DOES answer our prayers.
The answer may be:
YES…My good and faithful servant!
NOT YET…There are some things in your life that you aren’t surrendering to me.
MAYBE LATER…Be patent for I am with you. I will unfold my master plan before you.
POSSIBLY…As soon as your will aligns with my will and your desires align with my desires.
It’s not that God doesn’t answer prayer, sometimes we just don’t LIKE the way in which he answers us or we don’t SEE the way he’s answered it. People are looking for an immediate YES ANSWER to what they’re praying for. They want to be healed right now and they want a side-order of financial blessings. People want to see the evidence immediately in the natural realm. Some of the prayers God has answered for me, have taken years for me to see what he was actually accomplishing. The answer was coming in a step by step process that God had to lead me through. Our vision is limited by the time frame in which we live. But God sees it all from beginning to end. There were critical steps that needed to take place before my prayers could come about. It took years for me to see his plan and his power come together and unveil his work in my life.
God has answered many of my prayers instantly. PRAISE THE LORD! That’s always phenomenal. We need to believe, not doubt, praise and thank God during our prayer time with him, just as if he’s already answered our prayer the moment we spoke. I believe God answers our prayers immediately, but sometimes the manifestation of your prayer takes time. Some of my prayers God has answered within a few weeks or months. Don’t get discouraged or frustrated because you don’t understand what God is doing. It might not be required that you have that information. Our job as Christians is to trust God, believe in his promises and stand firm on his word. His plan is not to harm you but for you to continue hoping for a victorious future. So leave the results up to God. If you’re anxious and worried then you haven’t left the results up to him. God wants us to pray and then have peace regarding his provision.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition and with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Then the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds as you trust in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
This scripture tells us to not be anxious, to pray, be thankful and then look what happens next. We need to let the peace of God come flooding in regarding our prayer. When God gives you peace and rest on all sides then we need to latch on to it like a life-preserver. Our confidence in God will manifest itself in the peace we have after we pray.
Do not confuse unanswered prayers or prayers that SEEM
to go unanswered with hindered prayers.
OUR PRAYERS ARE HINDERED WHEN:
• We have the wrong attitude, are self-fishiness or angry and unforgiving.
• We don’t listen to the Holy Spirit or when we withhold God’s love from others.
• Spouses do not love each other like Christ loves the church.
• By many things people do when they don’t align theirs lives with God’s word.
• We are constantly telling God what we have done for him, rather than recognizing what Christ has accomplished for us by way of the cross.
• We don’t understand that our prayers must always be connected with God’s grace.
UNANSWERED PRAYERS do not exist. God answers our prayers. However, the answer may not always come in the form that we want.
ANSWERED PRAYERS chase after people who align themselves with God’s word. After all, it is ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD that he answers prayer. So we need to align ourselves with his word (the truth) in every area of our life. When we read his word we will know his will. His desires will become intertwined with our desires. When we listen to the Holy Spirit, then he can pray the perfect prayer through us.
Let the Holy Spirit lead and direct you when you pray. Jude 1:20
We do not know what to pray for, but the Holy Spirit will help us and intercede for us. Romans 8:26
When you’re praying to God, try to do more listening than talking. The most important part of prayer is the listening part. Successful and effective prayer has a lot to do with listening. Who has the most valuable information in the conversation between you and God? God does of course!
Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear. There is more to life than thinking about food, clothing and shelter all the time. Look at the birds of the air. They don't plant or harvest and they don't have storehouses or barns and God takes care of them. Do you understand how much valuable you are to God? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their leaves, stems and pedals. But understand this, Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of these flowers. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and gone tomorrow. How much more will he feed you, clothe you and take care of you. Don't worry about what you will eat, drink or wear. People who don’t trust God are always worrying about these things. Your Father knows what you need before you even ask. Put God's work first and all your needs will be supplied.” Luke 12:22-31
Obviously God already knows what your needs are before you even ask. So why does he tell us to ask? Have you ever thought maybe he wants to see how mature your prayers have become since the last time you talked to him? Let’s examine the following verse in James 4.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You constantly quarrel and fight with each other. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Don’t you know that the Holy Spirit who lives in us, envies our attention intensely. James 4:1-5
You do not have because you do not ask for the right things.
You do not have because you do not ask for my will to be done.
You do not have because you do not ask for souls to be saved into my kingdom.
You do not have because you do not seek first the kingdom of Heaven and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
You do not have because you ask with selfish motives. James 4
You do not have because you do not treat your spouse right. I Peter 3:7
You do not have because you do not love each other deeply from the heart. I Peter 4:8
I could continue the list, but basically when your life doesn’t align with God’s word, it won’t align with his will either. Answered prayer is a supernatural law that God will not break. He is true to his word. The question is: ARE YOU BEING TRUE TO HIS WORD?
According to all the scriptures that I have read in the bible, GOD ANSWERS PRAYER! There is no debate on this subject. I hope you’re beginning to understand that the truth is we stand in the way of our blessing. Our actions, thought life, words and attitude hinder and misdirect our prayers. We know this is true because God spends a lot of time in the bible telling us what to think about. He tells us what our attitude should be and about the encouraging words we should be speaking. God’s word tells us how we are to treat each other. Why would God spend so much time speaking to us on these subjects if they weren’t so vitally important? Be still before the Lord and listen to his directions as this new spirit he has deposited in you, guides you into new priorities and his perfect plan for your life.
I can’t see into a person’s heart like God can, but through his Holy Spirit, he can reveal what could be hindering your prayer. There could be a whole host of things hindering our prayers because people are so complicated. The bottom line is a bad attitude, wrong thinking and lack of self-control can hinder our prayers. Whatever it is that’s keeping your prayers from being answered lay it at the CROSS OF CHRIST and walk away free from the condemning voice of the enemy.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face
and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land. II Chronicles 7:14
Know this child of God, God chooses to use your prayer to accomplish his kingdom’s work. He will not share his GLORY with another, but he will share his POWER with us.
Do you want God to answer your prayer so you will look really spiritual in front of people? Are you asking God for some sign to validate YOUR MINISTRY, and prove to others that you’re in right standing with him? Are you asking God to answer your prayer to prove to you that he’s real? Only God knows why people pray the way the do.
All a man's ways seem innocent to him,
but his motives are weighed by the LORD. Proverbs 16:2
God knows we are just dust (Psalm 103:14). We are foolish, immature and we make plenty of mistakes. Don’t feel like you have to be perfect for God to answer your prayers. I can state for certain that none us are perfect or will ever be perfect. God already knows that about us. He’s not seeking out perfect people to bless, heal and answer their prayers. God sees us as perfect, righteous, holy and sanctified. He accepts us based on Christ actions.
Our willingness to listen, learn, change and grow is what God desires. God knows your heart and your intensions. God knows the reason you pray the way you do. I want to position myself to be heard from God and if he chooses to release his miracle working power through me, THEN PRAISE THE LORD! GLORY AND HONOR TO HIM!
If I come to the Lord with humility and thanksgiving, then my prayer will not be hindered. If I come to God with love and extend his love to others and forgive people and show them compassion and patience, then my prayers will not be hindered. If I come to the Lord with a confident hope, mixed with expectation, then my prayers will not be hindered. If I align myself with his word so that I can understand his will and his desires, then my desires will become his desires and he will give me the desires of my heart.