When we say we love the Lord, yet refuse to hear and heed God’s discipline and guidance, our prayers become repugnant in His sight. This scripture makes it clear: “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination”. (Proverbs 28:9)
If we reject God’s Word, the Bible, as final authority which is His primary communication about Jesus, how can we really know Him? If we say we love Him but do not follow the instructions in His Word, we may just be worshipping a false Jesus. We may have a made-up Jesus, or a ‘god’ of our own making fabricated in our own mind according to our own understanding and desires. This fabricated Jesus doesn’t exist, so, He obviously can’t answer prayers.
Sin Solicitous
Another reason the Lord might not hear our prayers is if we harbor secret or favorite sin within our heart. “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18). One of the ways to tell if we are secretly sinning is to ask ourselves would we want everyone to see what we are doing? Would we want this particular act to be brought into the light? If the answer is no, then it is sin. Sin loves darkness. Father tells us our prayers won’t be heard if we delight in our iniquity or hold on to something that we know is wrong. It’s admirable when a believer is doing their best to overcome a certain besetting issue in their life. A believer who is struggling against a certain temptation or who regularly and humbly repents is different from someone who rebelliously harbors sin and refuses to be penitent or change. If we cling to sin in rebellion against God, it will obstruct our prayers.
Mistaken Motives
“You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:2-3)
Father God desires to help us. He delights to show himself strong on our behalf, but often we don’t ask. Whether it’s because of pride, or because we think our issue is too big, or too small, or we want to try and figure things out in our own strength. Whatever the ruling issue, it’s a blocker standing in the way of getting the answers we need in prayer.
This verse also pin-points the issue of the motivations of the heart. When we are ruled by our own desires and passions it can lead us into sin and hinder a deeper relationship with God including His response to our prayers.
Skeptical Servitude
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:5-7)
More than anything Father God wants to shower his children with wonderful things. He’s already given us Jesus Christ his son which is the greatest gift of all. According to Romans 8:32 should we therefore believe that He would hold away from us any more of his beneficial love and goodness?
At times we may think that Father God will get sick of us because we are visiting Him too often with perpetual problems. Maybe we are ashamed to bring Him a consistent struggle that others seem to easily overcome, maybe we feel imperfect, and unlovable. Sometimes, it might seem that beyond the salvation of his Son, we don’t deserve much. This is nothing more than doubt which is a mental state whereby the mind remains suspended between two or more contradictory propositions, unable to be certain of any of them.
Doubt on an emotional level is indecision between belief and disbelief. It may involve uncertainty, distrust or lack of conviction on certain facts, actions, motives, or decisions. Doubt can result in delaying or rejecting relevant actions out of concern for mistakes or missed opportunities. If doubt creeps into our prayer life, it will lie to us about God’s love, patience, and power. It will lie and tell us that Father has limits, or that He is too busy for us. These are examples of how our prayers can be disrupted and impeded through doubt. Who can pray confident prayers with these negative thoughts in the back of their mind?
Pleasing Prayer If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:7-10)
In the above verse Jesus describes the purpose of prayer: To abide in Christ’s love, we follow his commands, which means knowing Scripture, “the word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us” (John1:1; Colossians 3:16). Then, as we grow in our understanding of the Lord Jesus, our love will naturally blossom which will bring us to repentance and a closer walk with Him. The more we become acquainted with Jesus and all that he has done for us as described in the scriptures, it will become more and more clear that we need to turn from the destruction of a sinful lifestyle and invest ourselves in getting to know the beauty of the Lord. We start to long for Him and His purity which is in stark contrast to the darkness of the world around us.
The scripture says we are transformed by the washing of the water of the word and likewise, our prayers will also be transformed. As we grow to know him, we will grow up to be like him which will cause our prayers to be improved. As we grow in confidence, His choices will become our choices. It will become a joy to submit to Him because we will trust Him and will have learned to hear His voice. We will delight to follow the flow of the Holy Spirit especially as we pray knowing that our heart aligns with His.
Ask According to His Will
As our Father, God delights to give good gifts to his children (Luke 11:5-13). Knowing that as we ask according to His will, we can have faith that He will answer us, even when His answer doesn’t align with our understanding or timetable. When doubt still comes, we reject it and turn to our forgiving and compassionate God who will bolster our faith. We come to God humbly in prayer through Jesus, who opened the way for us by removing all blockades to communion with God when He defeated sin and death.
Yes, until we go to our eternal abode, we will all struggle with the flesh and the world; so, the things we ask for may not be perfect and our reactions to certain revelations may be cloudy therefore, our requests may be tainted, and our ability to notice God’s answers may be murky. According to Psalm 37:4: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Those who love Jesus will be changed and delighted to be a part of Him. He sees past our uncertainties and knows the secret petitions and desires of our heart. He is a good Father who is perfect and knows exactly how and when to flawlessly provide and answer. GM
Healing Prayer for the Body (brief)
“Lord, I repent for turning towards any modality of healing you spirit do not condone. Forgive me for opening up my mind and body to further oppression. Don’t let my lack of faith get in the way of your miracle working power. Fill me with the unshakable faith you gave your servants Caleb and Joshua.”
Instructions:
“Lay your hands upon any area of your body that needs healing. By faith, receive.
Speak this from your heart:
“Lord, I receive your merciful healing power. Remove anything that Fill every weakness within with your strength. Remove any doubt that you can and will heal me. Give me vigilant patience. Fill my mouth with praise and thanksgiving as I receive divine wisdom and revelation on what would be best for my complete healing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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