Prayer is one of the most
misunderstood subjects in the Bible. It attracts different interpretations,
definitions, as well as misconceptions from people.
Some believe prayer is an avenue
to express sentiments towards God, some other people believe prayer must be
impeccably arranged for it to receive answers, but that's not the case. Prayer
is a means through which we communicate our thoughts, intentions, desires and express
intimacies towards God – it is a two-way flow of communication between man (humanity)
and his Maker (Divinity) (Exodus 33:17-19).
In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus gave a
blunt and direct assurance that those who ask, seek and knock through prayer
shall receive their requests. Prayer is the most effective platform we
communicate with the prayer-answering God (Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 50:15). But the
probing question here is, "If this is true and these scriptural passages
about God answering prayers swiftly (James 5:17-18, 1 Kings 18:24) are potent,
why are some prayers not answered?"
Some set of people argue that the
manner or way at which prayers are presented could determine its possibility to
attract answer or rejection from God. At this stage, it is highly imperative
for us to know that God still answers the prayers and desires of anyone who
believes and calls upon Him for help, in the same frequency He answered
scriptural personalities.
Hitherto, He still answers, even
at higher velocity. He is the same every time! (Hebrews 13:8). But obviously, there
are times God seems to be "silent" or "late" in granting
answers to some prayer requests, especially our major expectation, requests or
desires, while others receive instant answers. The question here is what could
be responsible for this?
We seem to experience this sporadically
in our walk with God. We often think God gives preference to some prayer
requests than the other or deliberately ignores some prayers. In tandem with
this rumination, we consequently begin to doubt God's acceptance of the prayer
or rather hold the devil liable as he did in Daniel 10:12-13.
Whatever is our resolves, we need
to be conscious of the fact that there are scripturally proven reasons why God
may choose not to answer your prayer, and here are six (6) of the reasons.
(1) The Lack of Spiritual Capacity to Handle Such Answer
God is our heavenly Father and He
always desires consistent intimacy with Him. He is of full apprehension of the
answers our spiritual status can handle per time, so he wouldn't give us what
out spirituality cannot handle.
God is merciful and jealous, He
wouldn't give us if there is an assurance of you using the money for sinful
acts or derailing from Him.
(2) When God Has Something Greater Than Our Request
Most times, we pray consistently
on a request and see no instant result. It could be that God has something
greater than our demands which He would release at an appointed time.
When God says "No", it
is because a bigger "Yes" will follow. Our minds are not configured
to conceive beforehand God's thoughts and plans for us (1 Corinthians 2:9). We
only know they are good (Jeremiah 29:11). This oblivious state of our mind
about His better plans makes us pray for lesser things.
We're intimately aware of the
certitude that God will never do what is lesser or contrary to His plan or will
for our lives. He never wants His people to settle for less but for bigger
things. So, He refrains from giving our lesser requests and grants His bigger
plan(s).
Therefore, whenever we experience
delay in getting answers to some prayers, check this!
(3) In Order to Clear Testimonies’ Devourers
We're of full understanding that
we live in a world of battles, contentions and victory. The world is not for funfair
but warfare (1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 2:14). There are possessed individuals,
powers and diabolic operations targeted at aborting answers to our prayers and
breakthroughs (Psalm 74:20, Daniel 10:12-13, 1 Corinthians 16:9).
Many people who pray fail to
acknowledge the existence of testimonies' devourers whose agenda is to prevent
the delivery of released answers to prayers. But our God who sees all (2
Chronicles 16:9) would destroy the devourers and then in His time, will release
the answers to His children’s prayers (Luke 20:42-43).
(4) Intention of Prayer
Many answers to prayer requests
are delayed or truncated because of the motive for the requests (James 4:3,
Jeremiah 17:10). Intention determines possession. Some prayers are born out of
strife, jealousy and intention to intimidate, while some to satisfy selfish,
fleshy and sinful desires.
Though we serve a
prayer-answering God, but He'll not give what will not bring glory to His name
and kingdom. Intention is the raw material for answered prayers. If God does
not give you what you want, it is because it is not what you need.
(5) If The Answer Would Cause Danger
God so much cherish and value us
that He wouldn't give us what would endanger our lives (Zechariah 2:8). He
knows what we don't know, He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 55:9) and
He knows what is good for us and would never release what is injurious to our
precious lives and destinies.
In prayers, out of desperation
many ask for what they think is "good" for them which truly are not
by God's analysis and omniscience.
(6) Iniquity
God's eyes can’t behold sin and
the sinners' requests, let alone answer them (Isaiah 59:1-2). Those who access
His Throne, His Court and His Hill are those with pure hearts and hands. Iniquity
makes one inaccessible to God (Habakkuk 1:13).
The praise and prayer of a sinful
man is an abomination to God. The Lord's hands are able to save, and His ears
are receptive to hear but iniquity hinders His intervention (2 Chronicles 7:14)
We should, however, note that when
God seems "late" in granting our desires, it is because He wants to
come big. God does not do mega things in a hurry. Major scriptural miracles
were not done in a hurry.
To intervene swiftly to Lazarus'
ill state and heal him would have been a small miracle but waiting to let him die
and raise him from the dead was a mega miracle (John 11:1-45). To have
miraculously increased the quantity of the wine at the wedding in Cana would
have been a small miracle, but waiting till it got exhausted and turning water
to wine was a bigger miracle (John 2:1-11).
Also, consider the approval of
Jesus' death and the mega miracle of raising Him from the grave. I say again,
when it seems that God is late, wait for Him, He is coming bigger than you can
ever imagine!
Do you know any other reasons not
mentioned why God may not answer one's prayer requests? Kindly share with us and
help fellow believers avoid the pitfalls of having their prayers unanswered.
Thank you greatly for taking time
to read and please do share with others!
*** Written by Clement Oladepo ***
THE TRUTH MEDIA
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