#19 “The Discipline of Prayer”

(Pt. 3)

“Believe me,” replied Jesus, “if you have faith and have no doubts in your heart,

you will not only do this to a fig-tree but even if you should say to this hill,

‘Get up and throw yourself into the sea’, it will happen!

Everything you ask for in prayer, if you have faith, you will receive.”

Mathews 21:21-22

J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

Unanswered Prayer, how many of us would say that we have had a few of them? I often find myself asking, “Lord are any prayers ever truly unanswered?” In our opening scripture Jesus is telling His disciples that, “if they have faith and do not doubt in their hearts, they would have whatever they say.” However, many of us have at some time or another had prayers, which seemingly went unanswered? Do some prayers go unanswered? Does God pick and choose which prayers He will and will not answer? Each of these questions are very valid and deserve our attention this morning; consequently, many people have ceased praying as a result of these very questions. I guess the best thing to do is go back to something Jesus said in Luke 11:11 – “Some of you are fathers, and if your son asks you for some fish, would you give him a snake instead, or if he asks you for an egg, would you make him a present of a scorpion? So, if you, for all your evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more likely is it that your Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Jesus was making a very valid point here, if our earthly parents can discern what is good or bad for us, how much more can our Heavenly Father.

The problem with children is they don’t know what is good for them; therefore, it is the responsibility of the parent to decide for them. Truly the day will soon come, when they can make quality discussions for themselves; nevertheless, until that day comes it is done for them. The truth of the matter is, based on what we know about the heart of Father God. There are no unanswered prayers, they're all heard and answer with, either Yes, No or Not Now, is there any doubt, which of these three we most want to here? Just as willing as we are to receive a “YES” answer to our prayers, we to must be equally enthusiastic about the “No” or “Not Now.” Why? Because you Heavenly Father, desire to give you good gifts (things). Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened,” this is God’s promise and desire towards us as His children."

So, what about the “No” answers, well let’s take a closer look? Sometimes “No,” is just that; you hear God speaking to your spirit a definite “NO” or perhaps it’s a Not Now answer, which still means no you're not ready for that. Of course we would like to hear something, one way or another right? Therefore when we don’t hear anything, we interpret that as being a non answered prayer. Also it could simply be that it’s coming and now you have to walk it out. It boils down to this, “do you trust God to know what’s best for you?” Just because something sounds right, looks right, or feels right, doesn’t mean it’s right for you. What we have to keep in mind is that, often times our emotions can become tied up in a matter and thus clouds our judgment of what’s actually right for us. At that point we only want to fulfill our desire to have that, which we want. This is when we hear James 4:3 saying, “But about the feuds and struggles that exist among you—where do you suppose they come from? Can’t you see that they arise from conflicting passions within yourselves? You crave for something and don’t get it, you are jealous and envious of what others have got and you don’t possess it yourselves. Consequently in your exasperated frustration you struggle and fight with one another. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And when you do ask he doesn’t give it to you, for you ask in quite the wrong spirit—you only want to satisfy your own desires."

A key factor in the Prayer of discipline is trusting the Father God to know what’s best for us, thus when we pray we believe that He hears and will give us what’s best for us according to HIS perfect will. Jesus told His disciples, don’t be amazes about what you see has happened to this fig tree. Because, when you walk according to the plans and purpose of the Father, there will be nothing He will not give you, when you ask Him for it. He has made the same promise to us today, when we ask accordingly.

My Prayer: This morning heavenly father we thank you for being an omniscience God. Father even we don’t always understand the reasons why, You would choose to say no, in response to our prayer, we trust. We trust Your judgment, knowing full well that you are the sovereign God; therefore, we say yes, to Your will. Help us not to pray according to our own selfish desires. We believe Your word and know that when we ask anything, according to Your word you will here and answer us. Thank You for teaching us to know your will and how to walk in it. Father, thank You for guiding us into all truth. In Jesus’ name Amen!

Thank you for joining me this morning for Morning by Morning until tomorrow,

Have A Blessed Day…go in God’s Peace!

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