Reasons for Unanswered Prayer (4): Sinful State
READ IT ALOUD: The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry (Psalm 34:15).
PONDER IT PRAYERFULLY: So you have asked and believed, and still no answer. Now ask yourself a few more questions. Check:
(i) Your MOTIVE. James 4:3. Are you asking for something to spite someone else, or out of competition or jealousy or some other wrong reason? If you are like the men who fasted with the motive of killing Paul, then give it up. God often answers prayers like these with a loud No.
(ii) Your HEART. Is there any unconfessed sin in your life? God says if you regard iniquity in your heart, He will not hear you (Psalm 66:18). Are you keeping His commandments? God says His answers are dependent on our life state – Jesus said if we abide in Him and His words in us, then we will have whatever we ask for (John 15:7). The reverse, therefore, must also follow: If we do not abide in Him and His words do not abide in us, then we will not have whatever we ask for.
BE A DOER (JAMES 1:22): It is wrong to treat God like a supernatural vending machine. Our relationship with Him is a two-way street. We must obey Him and live in Him, that way our desires will often match up to what He wills and therefore He will give them to us. Our motives are important to God. He is not in the business of answering every beck and call that we make to consume on fleshly appetites. Disobedience to God is rebellion and will disrupt His flow of blessings into our lives. So while we pray, we should ask God to seek our motives and expose them even to us, and we should be sure we have confessed our sins and are living according to His Word.
HIDE IT IN YOUR HEART (PSALM 119:11): And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:22).
PRAY IT PERSONALLY: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Check out these similar posts:
Recent Comments