“You have not because you do not ask” is a Scripture that many of us have memorized. With expectation that God will say, Yes, we eagerly pray, asking God for the things that will make us happy.
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13).
The Condition: We will only receive a “Yes” from Jesus, [our Heavenly Intercessor, who receives all prayers], if we ask for things that glorify God, the Father.
God, the Father’s Priorities For Every Believer
Our necessities of life; a relationship with Jesus; renouncing sin; daily spiritual growth; and the transformation of our character into the likeness of Christ’s Righteous Character, required to receive Eternal Life are God, the Father’s Plans for every faithful believer.
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus promises to give us all of our necessities of life:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Verse 25).
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles [unbelievers] seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Verses 31-32).
God Is Yahweh Yireh: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).
Spiritual Healing: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).
God promises to heal us from mental disorders and emotional trauma because those conditions prevent spiritual growth and transformation.
“The book of James contains a lot of practical instruction for how Christians should live their lives. The Apostle wrote to believers who seemed to have quite a few problems with their [desires] and behavior.”
Reflection: How are we spending our money and our time? Do our habits reflect that we recognize that time and money are blessings and gracious gifts from God?
Stewardship is properly managing our resources that God has given to us. Conservative management reveals that our heart is filled with gratitude and we use our ability to practice the discipline of self-control.
God Answers Our Question: “Why hasn’t God answered my prayer?”
God’s Reasons For Unanswered Prayers
#1: “You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your desires.” (James 4:3, Amplified Bible).
In this Scripture, James specifies selfish desires as one of God’s reasons for denying our requests.
#2: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19, 21).
Although, not every prayer is a request for money, our focus is on material possessions; a car, house, or a better job, a husband or wife, and many other specific desires.
#3: “But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10, NLT).
God knows the hidden secrets of our hearts that reveal our true characters and personalities. Will we value the gift instead of The Giver?
#4: Self-reliance Instead of Faithful Obedience: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46).
Reflection: Ask yourself, What is my relationship like with Jesus Christ? Do I use my faith to surrender and let go of my desires, asking God to reveal His plans for the new day?
Recap of God’s Priorities: Revealing His Plans For Your Life, Meeting Our Spiritual and Physical Needs, and Rewarding Faithful Believers With Eternal Life
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says 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.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV).
“So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, NIV).
God gifted His only Son, Jesus to redeem us from the consequences of sin and to reward the faithful with Eternal Life in the New Heaven and New Earth.
Have we aligned our desires with God’s desire to save our soul? Yes, we were created with free will of choice, yet, we are required to acquiesce to God’s Sovereign Authority.
“Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).
Every day, our desires, decisions, and lifestyles reveal whether or not, we are faithfully following Christ, Our Savior and Shepherd on the Narrow Path of Righteousness.
In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that our Spiritual Journey will be a tough journey, but for us to be courageous, because He will give us the strength to overcome our challenges.
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” (Matthew 11:28, NLT).
To establish and maintain our relationship with Jesus, the focus of our daily prayers should be spiritual, asking God to increase our faith, teach us humility, and to empower us with wisdom, courage, and strength.
“Ask, then; ask, and you shall receive. To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your needs.”
“The prayers you offer…God answers, not always according to your expectations, but always for your good.”
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'” (Luke 11:1, NIV).
Lord God, we thank you for life, health, strength, and our daily provisions. Lord, teach us how to pray. We struggle with prioritizing our spiritual needs over our desires. We know that Your ways are perfect. And we ask You to teach us how to live a life of self-denial, which is necessary to prepare for Eternal Life. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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