Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Prayer... Factors that Assure Answers

Last time, from humans.
This time straight from the source.
The WORD.

Just thought as I explore the concept of prayer that you might want to join along with me.

I focused this week on Factors that Assure Answers.

... because we all want to be sure that our prayers are answered, right?
or at least HEARD.

I found quite a few verses on this topic, but am sure there are WAY MORE just waiting to be discovered by my little mind.

Seems like most of these are conditional promises.
... you know... the kind that requires something OF you before the promise is given.

{Here they are... So you can indulge, too}

John 15:7
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.
How can we remain in God?
How can His words remain in us?
And is it REALLY that simple?  that "genie in a bottle" like?

Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
yikes.
How can I be sure that sin is not cherished in my heart?
I WANT God to listen to me.
Sin really does block my communication with Him.

1 John 3:22
and we receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
How can I know what his commands are and what pleases Him?
Must be by reading His Words in the Bible.
Isn't that the only way we can know what he commands us?

James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Wrong motives...
hmmmmm
spend what I get on my pleasures.
THIS is a hard one.
Isn't that WHY I pray?
so that I can get what I WANT?
Prayer must be bigger than my own desires and wishes.
Prayer must be selfless ?

{I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, too.}
What is the biggest answer to prayer that you have received lately?
What are you still waiting on God to answer?
What are you disappointed with God for not answering yet or in the way you expected? 



6 comments:

  1. The way I feel about prayer and have been taught by my pastor is to not ask for specific things I may want, but to ask for understanding and acceptance for what God has planned for me or the person I am praying for. I get the selfish part of prayer, asking for miracles, etc. but even when WE want something that God didn't give us doesn't mean that we aren't getting exactly what we need.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Becky, this is amazing stuff on prayer. I'm right there with you. Are you reading a specific book or doing a specific study? I'd love to know, as God has been leading me in this same direction.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My latest answred prayer was to spend more time with Him. This post was great because of the verse,'if I had cherished sin in my heart...'
    Imediatly struck me! Sin is sneaky and I need Him to show me. Therefor I need to ask and seek Him.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Lord answered one of our prayers that we had been praying about for the last 8 months or so...but not in the way that I had *wanted.* :) But He answered, and now I'm working on obeying with a happy and submissive spirit. I have peace, though, knowing that God is who He says He is. So we are trusting God with it all. "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt..." James 1:6

    ReplyDelete
  5. @f0140f90-344f-11e0-b1f2-000bcdcb471e I agree - God is so sovereign. He gives us exactly what we need whether we asked for it or not!

    ReplyDelete
  6. @ring@nc.rr.com
    My teammates here in Detroit gave me a Word document titled "Victorious Prayer". It has the name Warren and Ruth Myers underneath, but I'm not sure who they are. Want me to email you the document?

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails