Why Do Some Individuals Get Their Prayers Answered and Others Do Not (Heb 4:15-18)
Have you ever known some people who seem to get their prayers answered when others do not? What is the reason why some people seem to have an inside track into God’s favor, blessings and solutions?
An unknown author wrote:
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn to obey.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power and the praise of men;
I was given weakness to sense my need for God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for;
In spite of myself, my prayers were answered
I am among all men most richly blessed.
God always give grace that is sufficient for our need since Father knows best!
Illustration: The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. --Proverbs 15:29
Sportswriter Waddy Spoelstra and his wife Jean are both octogenarians who demonstrate each day the importance of a life of faith in Jesus Christ.
Jean has suffered from congestive heart failure for 3 years. After she had a medical checkup last fall, her doctor announced, "Your heart is good and your lungs are clear. It seems that both are in the process of healing." When Waddy responded with "Praise the Lord," the physician replied, "That’s it. You two have positive attitudes. You believe in answered prayer. As I’ve said before, prayer is a big part of medical care."
It’s exciting to hear a doctor acknowledging the connection between prayer and patient care. It’s not a new idea, though. Studies have shown that prayer can accelerate the healing process, whether it’s the patient or others who do the praying.
But we don’t really need studies to prove that prayer works. God’s Word tells us it does.
Have you spent time talking to the Lord about your trials? He knows how to meet your needs--whether through His direct intervention (Ps. 34:17) or through the comfort of His presence (v.18). Trust Him today with your heart. --JDB
Prayer brings us peace and gives us power
To walk the Christian way;
Prayer links us with the living God--
Therefore we need to pray. --Anon.
Daily prayers are the best remedy
for daily cares. (Our Daily Bread)
1. The Holy Spirit helps us the necessary conditions for answered prayer. Jesus said, "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me) and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7) Ask God to help you live IN Him with all of your heart, soul, strength and mind, so that you can see more of your prayers answered.
2. The Holy Spirit shows us how to encourage people to confess their sins of omission, commission, disposition and faulty perceptions. David wrote, "If I cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." (Psalm 66:18) Ask the Lord to encourage people to confess ALL of their sins before the Lord.
Illustration: I will remember the works of the Lord. —Psalm 77:11
In 1970, Ronald Dunn began keeping a record of answered prayers and special blessings in a little book. He misplaced the book but found it again several years later at a time when his faith was floundering. He was surprised that he had forgotten most of the incidents he had written about.
As he was reading, something happened. "My memory of God’s faithfulness was revived and my sagging faith began to recover," he said. "Remembering had restored my confidence in the Lord." Dunn now encourages Christians to keep a book of remembrance, recording God’s activity in their lives. "One day," he writes, "it may mean the difference between victory and defeat."
In Psalm 77, Asaph’s faith was also floundering. After listing his serious doubts, he asked, "Has God forgotten to be gracious?" (v.9). Suddenly he stopped and said: "I will remember the years of [God’s] right hand . . . . I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old" (vv.10-11). The act of remembering obviously revived his faith. Just read the rest of the psalm!
Why not create your own book of remembrance, recording God’s wonderful deeds? Then read it often, especially on days of doubt. —JEY
When faith grows weak and doubts arise
Recall God’s love and tender care;
Remind yourself of all He’s done
And of those times He answered prayer. —D. De Haan
Remembering God’s goodness is a good cure for doubt. (Our Daily Bread)
3. The Holy Spirit instructs us in what to ask for and how to pray with proper motives. James wrote, "You do have because you do not ask. You ask and yet, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:2,3) Ask God to help instruct you in what and why to pray regarding all facets of your ministries.
4. The Holy Spirit guides us in persevering through suffering in order to see ALL prayers answered in God’s time. James wrote, "You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 4:11) Ask God for a persevering heart, mind and body enabling you to see the full fruition of God’s answers to prayer in relationships & tasks.
5. The Holy Spirit fills us with a Christ like perspectives so we are able to avoid walking according to our own selfish impulses. Paul wrote, "Walk in the Spirt and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16) Ask the Lord to help you to walk in a way that is pleasing to the Lord in all respects so that He is able to make you fruitful in every good work and prayer.
6. The Holy Spirit works in and through you to do God’s work by supplying us with the desire to obey the Lord in every aspect of our personal lives and ministries. Paul wrote, "God is at work in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire both to will and to do His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13) Ask the Lord to create in you an abundant source of inspiration to help you accomplish His complete will.
7. The Holy Spirit steers us to and supplies us with the best fields that are ripe for harvesting the seed we sow. Paul wrote, "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work... Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness." (2 Cor. 9:8-10) Ask the Lord to lead you to the fields, relationships and ministries that are ripest for the harvest.
8. The Holy Spirit educates us in the best ways to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. (Eph. 6:18) Ask the Lord to teach you how to pray most appropriately in all situations according to the greatest needs represented in your groups, ministries and situations.
Illustration: Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God." —Mark 11:22
A familiar slogan about prayer is, "Prayer changes things." But prayer doesn’t do this—God does. Some people think that prayer itself is the source of power, so they "try prayer," hoping "it will work" for them. In Mark 11, Jesus disclosed one of the secrets behind all true prayer: "Have faith in God." Not faith in faith, not faith in prayer, but "faith in God" (v.22).
Jesus told His disciples they could command a mountain to be cast into the sea, and if they believed it would happen, it would. Jesus then gave them His meaning behind that astonishing promise. He said, "Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will" (v.24). Jesus was speaking about answered prayer. We can ask and receive answers only if our asking is directed to God in faith and according to His will (1 John 5:14).
I’ve often wished that I could move mountains by faith. Having once lived in Switzerland, I’d like God to move the Alps into my backyard in England. But He has done something much more important: He has removed mountains of worry, fear, and resentment from my heart and cast them into oblivion through my faith in Him. He is still in the mountain-moving business! Have faith in God and pray! —Joanie Yoder
When the Spirit prompts the asking,
When the waiting heart believes,
Then we know of each petition—
Everyone who asks receives. —Anon.
Faith is the key to answered prayer (Our Daily Bread)
9. The Holy Spirit emboldens us to pray with confidence, courage and certainty that God will answer our prayers. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it most). (Heb. 4:16- Amplified) Ask God for a holy boldness to approach the Lord to things that others may be afraid to trust God for.
10. The Holy Spirit rebukes, corrects and chastens us when we are praying out of the will of God. Hezekiah prayed, "The Lord said to Hezekiah, ‘Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’ Hezekiah turned his face to the Lord and prayed, "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes. Then God said, "I will add fifteen years to your life... But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem." (2 Kings 20:20,21 & 2 Chron. 32:24,25)
Application: Ask the Lord to help you to avoid asking for anything that is not in the perfect will of God for your life, your relationships or your ministries.
11. The Holy Spirit helps us learn from Godly people the best ways to pray and see positive results. Samuel wrote, "Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. He cried out to God, Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. And God granted his request." (I Chron. 4:9,10) Ask the Lord to bless you in GREAT QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ways according to the grace that God has given you in your personal gifts, abilities, and directions.
Illustration: May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. --Psalm 20:1
Author Susan Lenzkes was deeply troubled by the pictures on the news reports coming from Oklahoma City. The April 1995 bombing had taken its toll on the city’s residents and on the nation’s spirit. As Susan sat in her California home wishing she could do something, she prayed, "Lord, show me how I can help."
Two hours later the phone rang. It was a woman in Enid, Oklahoma, who had previously contacted Susan to tell her how one of her books had helped her. Now she was inquiring if copies of the book could be sent to people affected by the tragedy.
Soon Susan was talking with her publisher, who immediately provided a quantity of the books free. As word of this project spread, other ministries got involved. In just a couple of days, thousands of books and Bibles were on their way to Oklahoma City.
Susan prayed. God answered. Spiritual needs were met.
That’s how prayer works. We call out to our heavenly Father in faith, knowing that He can do what we could never do. The answer may not be dramatic; it could be as simple as giving us strength to make it to tomorrow. Whatever the case, we can pray as David did, "Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call" (Ps. 20:9). --JDB
For answered prayer we thank You, Lord;
We know You’re always there
To hear us when we call on You;
We’re grateful for Your care. --JDB
God’s help is only a prayer away. (Our Daily Bread)
