Devotionals

Moment of Transformation:

  • Pray for the items listed in your Prayer Journal
  • Pray for the transformation of the five individuals/families you chose
  • Pray that your colleagues will be transformed by Christ’s FORGIVENESS
  • Pray for your transformation in order to become generous

ANSWERED PRAYER

There are certain conditions upon which we may expect that God will hear and answer our prayers. One of the first of these is that we feel our need of help from Him. He has promised, “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” Isaiah 44:3. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who long after God, may be sure that they will be filled. The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received.

Our great need is itself an argument and pleads most eloquently on our behalf. But the Lord is to be sought unto to do these things for us. He says, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” And “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Matthew 7:7; Romans 8:32.

If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. When all known wrongs are righted, we may believe that God will answer our petitions. Our own merit will never commend us to the favour of God; it is the worthiness of Jesus that will save us, His blood that will cleanse us; yet we have a work to do in complying with the conditions of acceptance.

Another element of prevailing prayer is faith. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. Jesus said to His disciples, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. Do we take Him at His word?

The assurance is broad and unlimited and He is faithful who has promised. When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers. We are so erring and shortsighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us and our heavenly Father, in love, answers our prayers by giving us that which will be for our highest good—that which we ourselves would desire if with vision divinely enlightened we could see all things as they really are. When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come and we shall receive the blessing we need most. But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption. God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you.”

Ellen G. White, Prayer, p. 282

Quote of the Day “Thank God for unanswered prayers.” Garth Brooks

Did You Know?

God always answers prayers but His answer isn’t always “Yes”. Sometimes His answer may be “No”, or “Wait”.

Going Deeper

There are legitimate reasons in the Scriptures why some requests are not granted: A person may be asking for the wrong reasons (James 4:3); A person may be in disobedience or rebellion (1 John 3:22); A person may be asking for something that is outside the will of God (1 John 5:14); A person may be in a state of unforgiveness with another person (Matt. 6:14-15).

Peter taught that husbands are to dwell with their wives “with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

At times, God refuses to answer our prayers because He knows that if He answers them, we will stray farther off base. For example, an answered prayer may cause us to respond with personal pride and error in thinking that our prayers alone led to a miracle, a healing, a blessing or a person’s salvation. Charles F. Stanley, Listening to God (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1996).

Question…

Since “we are so erring and shortsighted that we sometimes ask for things that would not be a blessing to us”, what should be your posture in prayer?

This Week’s Homework

  1. Memorize: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7 NKJV
  2. Contact the five individuals/families that you are praying for, and inform them that you have been praying for them and ask them if they have a special prayer request.
October 26, 2015

Day 13 – ANSWERED PRAYER

Moment of Transformation: Pray for the items listed in your Prayer Journal Pray for the transformation of the five individuals/families you chose Pray that your colleagues […]
October 26, 2015

Day 12 – THE TRUE MEDIATOR

Moment of Transformation: Pray for the items listed in your Prayer Journal Pray for the transformation of the five individuals/families you chose Pray that church members […]
October 26, 2015

Day 11 – THE GREAT “I AM”

Moment of Transformation: Pray for the items listed in your Transformational Journal Pray for the transformation of the five individuals/families you chose Pray that your neighbours […]
October 26, 2015

Day 10 – PRAY IN HUMBLENESS OF HEART

Moment of Transformation: Pray for the items listed in your Transformational Journal Pray for the transformation of the five individuals/families you chose Pray to be transformed […]