WILL GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS?

[Bayo Afolaranmi]

Dearly Beloved,

WILL GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS?

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him " (1 John 5:14-15 NIV).

As I wanted to sleep recently, I received a message from one of my contacts on WhatsApp asking me whether God would answer his prayer or not. I summarily answered him that God would answer him if what he is requesting is in accordance with the plan of God for him at that particular time. As I also had a prayer request that I have been asking God for my ministry, I pondered on that question: "Will God answer my prayers?" The simple answer to it is YES. However, the affirmative answer is with a condition and may be in various ways.

The condition of answer of God to any prayer request is the will of God. God will not do anything that is contrary to His will. Jesus Christ knew this principle, He taught it in the popular "Lord's Prayer" (see Matthew 6:10), and He applied it in the Garden of Gethsemane when He about to face the cross. He prayed "that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will'" (Mark 14:35-36 NIV).

Someone has said that God answers our prayers in any of the three ways, vis, yes, no, or wait. God will answer yes to our prayers if the request is perfectly according to His will at that particular time. He may ask us to wait till when He deems it fit for us to have the answer to the request. Likewise, He may answer no to the prayer if the request is NOT according to His will for us.

Examples of this principle abound in the Bible. A classic one was the case of David when he wanted to build a temple for God. God partially answered no to that request but said that David will have to wait till the time of his son before the request will be granted (see 2 Samuel 7).

Getting "Yes" answer to our prayer is lovely. However, when God says "No" or "Wait" to our request, He has something better for us. The reason is, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55: 8-9), and "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29: 11-12).

It is certain that God will answer our prayers according to His will. Are you ready to accept God's perfect answer to your prayers in His own way and His own time?

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

 

NB

Do you use WhatsApp on your phone or other devices? Add this number [phone] (NOT FOR CALL PLEASE) to your contacts and then inform/invite me through it. You will be added to my WhatsApp contacts. God bless you! 

[Pastor Melvin King]

This is very good my friend. What you say is true. Might I also add that God hears all of our prayers, but He only answers our faith. Praying according to His will in tells our praying in faith, doubting nothing. If we doubt, then we do not believe that He hear us, and if we do not know that He hear us, we do not know that we have the petition that we desire of Him. God will hear your prayer, but if you have no faith, He will not answer.

James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.