Subscription Lists

Prior to Jesus' crucifixion and ascension to the Father's right hand, he told the disciples to ask anything of Him and He would grant it. John emphasized His promise. (John 14:13) The whole issue resolves around relationship - of oneness with Him, on a level very few have experienced or known.

It is a very simple reason for many answered prayers.

If you at some time casually meet someone, could you expect to receive from this person ANYTHING you asked? Having just met this person, or someone that you do not know very well, would it not be presumptuous to them for you to ask having just met each other?

If you have been asking Jesus for something for a long, long time, and have not received it, have you wondered why? I asked someone years ago if they had prayed and ask God for what they were desiring. This person answered yes, but had given up receiving it. I asked when they asked, to which they replied they had asked one day ago. Two questions could be asked of this person as the result of their answer. First, why had they set a time limit for receiving the answer. Second - the most important - how well did they know the one they were asking. The answer to the second could be the key to their unanswered prayer request.

First, we must realize that Jesus did not say when He would honor their request - an often overlooked consideration. Of course when you ask the Lord for something, it usually seems urgent to you. Notice I said, to you...

How well do you know Jesus? I mean, REALLY know Him. How much and how often do you talk with Him? And is it a one way conversation? Do you open you mind and heart for the Holy Spirit to communicate to you? Do you study God's Word, and prayerfully beseech Him for the right mindset and attitude to enable Jesus to listen to your request? Perhaps you are unknowingly setting time limits for the answer because His intervention is so urgent? Many times it is very urgent, as far as we can discern. But only Jesus has the whole picture. And usually the whole picture includes much more than us, our time table, desires, and emotions - especially when our concerns involve loved ones, sickness or life threatening illnesses.

Ultimately, Jesus wants to hear from you what He said to His Father when He was praying about another life threatening situation. Perhaps He is waiting for you to say with an honest and submissive heart, "Not my will, but yours be done"!

Often, God will not intervene, or grant us our request for something, whether it be a perceived need, a healing, or other genuine desire, until we give it up beforehand. So many times He wants to see whether we desire answered prayer more than we desire HIM. It amounts to one version of the old saying, "let go, and let God".

We all must keep tucked away in the back of our consciousness that only God knows the end from the beginning. And that goes for our lives, our loved one's lives, and the world. The total plan Jesus has in mind for us is not to be revealed in this life. The whole issue is designed by infinite Wisdom to be one of the mysteries of this life before we enter into eternal life. Then we will know "even as we are known". In a sense, we must live as implied by the title of a popular movie. Until then, let us "pay it forward". The finite must trust the Infinite, the only One who is trustworthy - the perfect, holy, and loving God, and our Savior. All prayers that are for our good will be answered - someday.

And if they are not answered ..."One of God's greatest gifts is unanswered prayer" - Author Unknown

" [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord." - Psalm 27:13-14 (AMP)

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

Manifestations of the Spirit