Why Our Prayers May Not Be Answered

 

We all pray. When Jesus lived on earth He taught us The Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father, as a model of how to pray. When teaching it He did not say “If you pray”; He said when you pray. This, as well as many other passages in the New Testament tells us it is God’s Will that we pray.

  You may have learned that when we pray God’s answer is either “Yes”, “No”, or “Not right now”. That is true, but there are also some things that can block our prayers from being answered. I would like to mention a few.

 

You husbands, too, must show consideration for those who share your lives. Treat women with respect.... If you do so, nothing will keep your prayers from being answered.”  1 Peter 3:7

 

This passage tells us that if you do not live considerately with your spouse and honor him, your prayers may not be answered. (Even though the Scripture passage is addressed to husbands, I’m sure it applies to wives as well.)

 

If any of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given him. Yet he must ask in faith, never doubting, for the doubter is like the surf tossed and driven by the wind. A man of this sort, devious and erratic in all that he does, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  James 1:5-7

 

If you have doubt that God can or will answer your prayers it can interfere with God answering them. This is especially true when praying for healing. There are many other passages in the New Testament where Jesus speaks of the need for faith before He is able to act.

 

You ask and you do not receive because you ask wrongly, with a view to squandering what you receive on your pleasures.  James 4:3

 

God may not answer your prayer if you have selfish motives.

 

Were I to cherish wickedness in my heart, the Lord would not hear…

Psalm 66:18

 

If you harbor evil in your heart, it will block your prayers.

 

These are by no means an exhaustive list, just some areas to examine before you pray or if your prayers don’t seem to be answered.

The Defeat of the Trump Administration

 The illegal, fraudulent election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, resulting in the defeat of the Trump administration reminds me of a movie I saw many years ago, "The Mission", which starred Robert DeNiro. As I recall, it was about Christian missionaries who ministered to a tribe of isolated people. They invested themselves so thoroughly in the lives of the people and taught them about Jesus and the Gospel. In the end, all the missionaries were killed and the only thing left of their work was a cross and two people who retained the faith. It was one of the few movies I have viewed that left me sobbing in the end.

  I feel the same way, not so much about President Trump the man, but about all the good he and his administration accomplished in the past four years. It will all eventually be undone, much of it with the stroke of a pen (executive order). As in the movie "The Mission", there is still the cross; the knowledge that the cross of Jesus triumphed over evil and will triumph over it again. It's just so hard to understand why it has been allowed to happen.

  My heart breaks especially for all the unborn and born children who will die because the restrictions and constraints put into place by President Trump's administration will be rescinded.

  Pray for our country; pray for our people. God will not be mocked and we will all suffer as a result of this great evil that has overtaken our government.

Thankfulness

 Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6b-7

 

  I believe thankfulness to God is the key to happiness and contentment in this life. I have always been a “glass half empty” type of person. Many years ago I had a serious problem with ongoing depression from which I was healed through the grace of God. But I still find that I have to guard against a spirit of melancholy and sadness; of looking at the dark side rather than the bright side of life.

  Many years ago, my spiritual director suggested that I keep a Thanksgiving journal; writing down something each day that I am thankful for. It has since evolved into a journal where I record not only the things I am thankful for in my life, but the many blessings, healings and miracles that have occurred in the lives of my family. When bad things happen (as they do to all of us), I go back and read about all the good things God has done in and for me and my family. It lifts my spirit and helps me keep the present trial in perspective.

  I would like to suggest that you consider starting a Thanksgiving journal for yourself. Another suggestion is to include prayers of thanksgiving in either your morning or evening prayers. In my evening prayers, I try to think of three things about that day that I am thankful for. I also set aside one day a week as a “Thanksgiving” day where I thank God for those intentions or people that I pray for on the other days.

  The Psalms in Scripture are also a good way to focus on thanking God. The following are some I use that you can copy and use as a bookmark in your Bible.

 

Thanksgiving Psalms

 16 – for blessings

 18:1-7 – for strength

 30 – for healing from serious illness

 40 – Gratitude & prayer for help

 41 – after sickness

 65 – for abundant blessings

100 - Thanksgiving

103 – Praise of Divine Goodness

112 – for blessings

116 – for help in time of great need

118 – Hymn of Thanksgiving

138 – Hymn of a Grateful Heart

The Truth about Homosexuality

 

To have a sexual attraction to a member of the same sex is not a sin in itself—it is the effect of demonic influences, with passed down through a person’s ancestors or acquired sometime during a person’s lifetime.

  A person is not BORN homosexual. Science has not found a homosexual gene, although there has been much effort to try to find one. People are either male or female according to their DNA. This is true from the time of conception and never changes throughout a person’s life.

  Because many people, scientists and psychologists don’t believe in demons, their only way of explaining homosexual tendencies is through scientific means. Until very recently, the scientific community agreed that homosexuality was abnormal. Then the political powers that seek to push their agenda managed to exert enough influence on part of the scientific community to say that homosexuality was normal. There are still many in the scientific community who do not agree with that, but their voices are drowned out by those who control many aspects of society.

  Among those who profess a belief in God and God’s Word in the Bible, opinions are changing. They agree that although a sexual relationship between members of the same sex is forbidden by God, the feeling of sexual attraction to a member of the same sex is not a sin, but a disorder. It’s a disorder that in many cases can be healed. But, just as with many other psychological disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, or anxiety, healing is often difficult and complicated and the aim is to at least control negative behavior.

  For those religious denominations that have deliverance ministries, the success rate is higher, but it is still a long process because the demonic influence infiltrates so many aspects of a person’s life.

Spiritual Works of Mercy - Bear Wrongs Patiently

 Oh—this is a tough one. None of us likes to be mistreated or misunderstood. It’s difficult for all of us when people treat us unjustly; or lie or mislead others as to our character or what we have done or not done. How painful when people shun or reject us.

  When this happens to us (and it happens to all of us one time or another) it helps to remember that Jesus, who was perfectly holy, also had to endure unjust treatment by others. Although he only did good to others he was subjected to hatred, jealously, false witnesses, slander, rejection and was eventually crucified.

  God says we are to forgive others when they offend us. 

"'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord” (Rom 12:19). 

 If there is any justice that needs to be done, in this life or the next, the only One qualified to do it is the Lord, for He alone knows the secrets of all hearts. Therefore, we must never try to get back at, or punish anyone who has wronged us. That means "petty vengeance" as well, which includes the use of slander or gossip to get back at people for the evil they may have done to us.

  Instead, Jesus commands us to pray for our enemies. 

My command to you is: love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you.  Matthew 6:44 

St. Paul says: But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; by doing this you will heap burning coals upon his head.” Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.  Romans 12:20-21 

  However, forgiveness is probably the most misunderstood of all the works of mercy. It does NOT mean blindly letting oneself be victimized. You have a duty to protect yourself and your loved ones from harm. Forgiving our enemies does not mean passively subjecting ourselves to abuse or not defending ourselves. The duty to forgive our enemies is compatible with protecting ourselves from harm and demanding fair treatment from others, especially close family members. When people have harmed or offended us, we have a duty to let them know their behavior is offensive. This is also a work of mercy since a person should be made aware of the harm they are doing. Even if it doesn’t result in a change in their behavior, you will at least have made them aware of it. To “bear wrongs patiently” does not mean to let someone walk all over you.

  So—What do you do if someone continues their negative behavior. If possible, you can separate yourself from them. I don’t mean to shun them; just to avoid contact with them when possible. If it’s an extended family member that you have to socialize with from time to time, then avoid getting into conversations with them that might give them the opportunity to criticize you. One woman I know had to avoid almost all contact with her father because whenever they were together he would bring up the wrong things she did in the past that she had repented of.

  If it’s someone you live with, then it becomes even more difficult. You have to avoid getting into discussions or arguments that might give them the opportunity to abuse you. Pray for them and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to how to live with them as peacefully as possible. Forgive, forgive, forgive. Jesus said we have to forgive “seventy times seven times” (Matthew 18:22) Remember the guidelines for love in 1 Corinthians 13—be patient and kind; don’t take offense; don’t harbor grudges or brood over injuries.

  To bear wrongs patiently is one of the most difficult things to do. So we must forgive ourselves when we fail, repent and ask Jesus for the same grace that enabled Him to bear the wrongs done to Him.

On Separated or Divorced Couples

When dealing with your divorced and separated friends and relatives, remember that although it takes two to make a marriage, it only takes one to break a marriage.  Don’t take sides.  Your don’t really know who’s at fault. Even in cases of infidelity, you don't know whether the behavior of the other spouse may have contributed to or even caused the infidelity.

Jesus said: If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment. Your verdict on others will be the verdict passed on you. Matthew 7:1-2

Stop judging by appearances... John 7:24

The Epistle of James says: There is but one Lawgiver and Judge, one who can save and destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?  James 4:12

Couples who are separated or divorced need the advice of wise counsel, prayers and friendship. Although separation and divorce affect family relationships and friendships, this should never result in shunning or never speaking to a person again. Listen to the affected party, but don't agree with them or add fuel to their fire. Advice should only be given by a trained counselor or an older person who is spiritually mature.

The World Wants You Back

The world (the devil) wants you back.

It has been my experience that if you are a lukewarm Christian, or no Christian at all, the devil leaves you alone. But if you start coming closer to Christ, watch out! He will work overtime to get you back.

  But once you have become a committed Christian, the devil works more subtley and slowly, hoping to catch you off guard. Also, the temptations or distractions will not necessarily be the ones he used against you previously.

  St. Catherine of Sienna wrote what she said Jesus taught her about temptation:

The devil will take advantage of your blindness and put before you a banquet of his delights, colored to look like something that is good for you.

For each person he chooses what is most appealing to their principal weakness, and to each according to their station in life.

The devil will issue you an invitation to death disguised as life.

But "Greater is He who is in you, than He who is in the world." 1 John 4:4b

Note: For further insight on this subject, I recommend The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis