Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for something but you don't believe that you will receive an answer to your prayer.
As an example, let's say you want your child to be accepted into a certain school. You know that it is the best school for them but unfortunately, because of where you live or some other circumstance, your child can't attend there. But there is a way to apply and maybe possibly be accepted. Chances are slim that she'll get in. Currently, there are no openings, but in faith, you ask God to make a way.
You know that you need to have faith that God will make it happen. You know you need to trust God that He will answer your prayer.
But then you begin to doubt that it will happen. After all, "this is the real world"; you say to yourself; "God just doesn't answer every single prayer". You begin to make excuses for God to prepare yourself for the inevitable disappointment: "Well, I guess it won't be God's will for this to happen." Or how about this one: "I guess I haven't been good enough this year (like God is Santa Claus) and He's not going to answer my prayer this time. Maybe next year."
In order to receive an answer to our prayers; the answer we want; we must believe that God wants to give us the desire of our hearts. He loves us and wants us to believe Him. It is the desire of His heart for us to have faith.
In the New Testament, Jesus says over and over again, "just believe me?" He says it to Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus died; he said it to the disciples when he fed the five thousand; he encouraged those who came to him for healing that their faith had healed them.
In fact, we are commanded by Jesus to believe that he will answer our prayers. In Mark 11:22-24, when the disciples saw what had happened to the fig tree after Jesus cursed it, he told them; "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours."
Sometimes when I have prayed for something, in my heart I have believed that I wasn't worthy to have my prayers answered. Talk about a lack of faith! But I've learned that if we are saved, born-again believers, we are worthy to have our prayers answered. Our worthiness lies in the value that was given to us by Jesus when he died for us. Without that sacrifice, we are not worthy but because Jesus died for us, we are valued by God and therefore worthy of having our prayers answered.
Have an "attitude of gratitude"
So do you still doubt that God will answer your prayer? Do what Jesus did. When Jesus told Martha and the other people present at Lazarus' tomb to take away the stone, Martha protested because she didn't believe that Jesus would be able to raise Lazarus from the dead. But Jesus said; "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" Then he gave thanks to God,"Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
In everything, Jesus gave thanks. Paul tells us, in Philippians 4:6; "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. If you are still besieged by doubts that God will answer your prayer, give thanks to Him in advance! As those doubts pop up in your mind, keep thanking him and you will receive from God. Giving thanks to God before receiving the answer to your prayer will ultimately result in glory being given to God. And that's what it's all about. Give glory to God!
Copyright 2005 by Eunice Coughlin.
Eunice Coughlin is a mother of 2 daughters, wife of one husband and founder of http://www.healthy-living-for-moms.com
eco-friendly cleaning service Winnetka ...Prayer from a child's simple bedtime prayer, to the prayers... Read More
On January 13th 1982 an Air Florida flight crashed off... Read More
Self-actualization comes down to three basic premises: this is who... Read More
Sometimes showing up for life can seem like a major... Read More
I thought for sometime that I was hard done bye... Read More
I can truly say to this day of August, 2005,... Read More
Eden, the garden of ecstasy is no longer available to... Read More
Second Isaiah, so called because his book of prophecy was... Read More
Life is just a journey. Princess DianaWhether we are... Read More
Make no mistake about it, change is challenging whether it... Read More
Burn out, it can happen to anyone. Some of the... Read More
Obviously, if you really want to learn about the meanings... Read More
Do you have a dream, but are waiting for "just... Read More
We are apart of all that is, our consciousness spring... Read More
Sometimes you have to see something to believe it. Like... Read More
With excitement and anticipation I jumped on a plane last... Read More
"Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because... Read More
James 1:23-24Anyone who listens to the word but does not... Read More
Some may ask, is there any truth to have a... Read More
(Channeled) Spirituality is about everyday life, which includes getting up... Read More
The time has come for the mass population on Earth... Read More
Last week, I sat at my computer and watched the... Read More
Christians all over the world will all be tempted in... Read More
The Angelic realms have been very active throughout the human... Read More
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;I... Read More
housekeepers near Highland Park ...Matthew 2:1-12The Visit of the Wise Men1 Now after Jesus... Read More
Years ago a commercial ran for eggo waffles. It showed... Read More
Self-actualization comes down to three basic premises: this is who... Read More
Presently, many of us live in uncertainty. Due to the... Read More
INTRODUCTIONSpiritual affirmations are positive, statements of intention, that facilitate manifestation.... Read More
It's human nature to point a finger when we think... Read More
On one side there is a dark cloud. It is... Read More
Life is like an obstacle course in which we run... Read More
"Self-Actualization" is the process of making our self "actual." Our... Read More
We have all heard the phrase, "follow your nose". This... Read More
The Many Waters explores the universe and sifts through the... Read More
Feeling restless? Is part of you calling out for change,... Read More
My name is Had. You may know me, but you... Read More
You decide! We are often asked to make decisions. Decision... Read More
For many years of my life, I thought the spiritual... Read More
... Read More
Have you heard the saying that; You have a friend... Read More
Even Pandora and her box come in two versions. In... Read More
Human beings originally have three forms of existence. The first... Read More
During moments of helplessness, there is always one thing that... Read More
I am going to remind of some simple, yet important... Read More
The teacher of the future.... will be a master of... Read More
(Channeled) Spirituality is about everyday life, which includes getting up... Read More
I have almost died twice in my life. The first... Read More
I still remember the scene vividly. I was getting out... Read More
Spirituality |