WHEN GOD SAYS "NO" TO YOUR PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY AUGUST 04, 2023.

SUBJECT : WHEN GOD SAYS "NO" TO YOUR PRAYER!

Memory verse: "He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26 vs 39.)

READ: First Chronicles 22 vs 7 - 10:

22:7: And David said to Solomon; "My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God;

22:8: But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.

22:9: Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.

22:10: He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'

INTIMATION:

God's answer to your prayer can be "No." And when God says "No" to your prayer, what would be your reaction? Some people will agonize, murmur, or even question God; "God why did You say no, when You had said, 'Ask, and I shall receive?'" Remember, God is a God of purpose. He created all things for His preplanned purposes. All He does is according to His purposes, including an answer to your prayer. He will not grant any request contrary to His preplanned purposes already noted in His Book for you (Psalm 139 vs 16). That which is recorded in His Book is His "Will." Therefore, when you ask anything in prayer, outside His Will, you receive a 'no' answer to such prayers.

God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46 vs 10). He knows when our desires are not in consonance with His purposes. Therefore, when our request in prayers is outside His will, our requests are not granted. Your reaction to a 'no' answer from God should be an accepting, and humble heart before the LORD; praising, and thanking Him for the answer. In our memory verse, Jesus asked for something outside the Will of the Father, and was quick to also, humbly acknowledge that 'not as I will, but as You will.' In Jesus' sorrowful heart, He humbled Himself, even to the point of death on the cross. 

King David was a man described by God Himself as "a man after My own heart" (Acts 13 vs 22). He was worried that while he was dwelling in a beautiful palace of cedar, the Ark of the covenant of the Lord, which is a symbol of the presence of God, sat under tent curtains. David expressed his displeasure to Nathan the prophet. The prophet urged him to do all that is in his heart. Though David’s gesture was good and admirable, but God refused that David should build the temple, and gave His reason for His refusal (First Chronicles 22 vs 8). God told David that his son Solomon will undertake the task of building a house for Him instead. 

David responded to God's refusal with deep humility, not resentment. David went and sat before the Lord and humbled himself in prayer, praising God, recognizing God's blessings and accepting God's decision, promises, and commands. He recognized that God is the true king. David graciously accepted the"no" from God. He was not jealous of the fact that his son would have the honor of building God's temple, but instead made preparations for Solomon to carry out his task.

David’s humble response, and acceptance of God’s ‘Will’ should be our attitude to ‘no’ answer to our prayers by God. We should know that our prayers to Him are our ideas and desires which may not be in accordance with His Will for us. Therefore, when our requests are not granted, we should gladly accept God’s ‘no’ answer with thanksgiving that we are not outside is Will. Sometimes we are quick to make requests to God and to tell Him of our troubles, but, like David, we need to emphasize these other dimensions of prayer, which helps us deepen our spiritual life; we should take time to praise God, to count His blessings, and to affirm our commitment to do what He has already said to do.

Similarly, as David did, we should take steps now to prepare the way for our children to find and fulfill God's purpose. When they are grown to start making their own decisions, you would have helped them with the proper tools, showing them how to pray and study God's Word, the difference between right and wrong, and the importance of kingdom involvements, and reverencing God.

Prayer: Abba Father, There is none like You. Let Your Will rule every area of my life in all circumstances. My absolute trust is in You. What You have not willed for me, may it never cross my mind to request, what You cannot do for me, may it remain undone, and what You cannot give me, may I never have it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!