Why is my prayer not being answered?

This morning I am thinking about all the prayers we send up to God. We put all our wants and needs into these prayers, and we know that God said to ask anything and we could have it, then we wonder why our prayers seem to go unanswered. God's word is true and he WILL give us what we ask for, but there are stipulations that apply.

1. We must BELIEVE and have FAITH
2. We must not ask amiss just for the sake of having it, it should be a need, not a want
3. We must do good to others in order for God to do good for us.

Here in Mathew, Jesus told them the key to answered prayers. FAITH AND BELIEVING.

Mathew 21:21-22
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Here, James taught the people that they could not be constantly bickering among each other and still expect to see their prayers answered and he let them know that they should be asking for things of need, not just wants or things they could enjoy having. God will provide food for your table, Clothes for your back, but he may not be so quick to give you a pickup truck when you have a perfectly good one sitting in the yard.

James 4:1-3
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Finally, Paul taught us that there are things that God's people should be doing in order to see prayers answered. He taught that children need to be obeying their parents and that parents should be patient with their children and not provoke them. He taught us that we should honor our parents and that servants (employees) should do a good job for those they work for. Paul plainly points out that in order for God to give us good things, we must in turn do good things for others.

Ephesians 6:8
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

These are only a few scriptures that teach us about why we don't see every prayer answered, but the bottom line is that we need to love more and do more good for our fellow man. It goes right back to my previous post. Love is the key.

Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible