Unanswered Prayers

Is God a genie?

Believers are notorious to plead out to God in prayer for understanding. Even more so, they are guilty to say, "God is not giving me clarity." Or "God must be testing me by putting me in a silence period." Some scriptures make it easy to lean on an idea that every prayer by a believer must be answered and given to them.

Given to them is the part that is most concerning. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24, NIV). Many will see this and say, "But, it does say that! Not just that, but those letters are in RED." But, what else does the scripture say about prayer?

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." (John 15:7, NIV italics added). Notice that if, is it not significant what Jesus said there in John? A believer must stay within the general will of God, or they will be subject to the promise that their prayers will not be answered.

Look at John 15:7 again, "If you remain in me". This statement is more than just the general will of God, obeying his commandments and staying out of sin. This statement is leveraged to remain in Christ. Believers have to remain in Christ also, but what does that mean biblically?

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11, NIV italics added). As a believer, one should count themselves dead to sin. Knowing their sins are paid for and done away with by the death of Jesus on the cross; forgotten forever by God in heaven.

"Alive to God in Christ", that is just profound. Look at the sentence structure carefully. It is set up in a way that keeps the aspect of counting themselves relevant to "alive to God" also. Alive to God, being a God-given identity issue, but not one that is repeating God viewing believers this way; it is saying that the believers should count themselves seen in this way also. Ending with "in Christ", meaning Christ is the way, and the one who equips us to accept the truth that through salvation we are seen as righteous in his sight.

Back on track

After all of that, it is time to circle back to what in the world that means for prayer. Declaring God as sovereign over ourselves is the point. Not only is he holy and set apart from sin, but also he is also our creator and ultimate provider. Because he is sovereign over believers they are to acknowledge that and submit themselves to Him. "If you remain in me" (John 15:7, NIV), if you remain in Jesus. That statement is bold, and not dismissive at all. Jesus just declared himself greater than the believer. He is speaking to his kingship and stance with the father.

Next, "and my words remain in you," (John 15:7, NIV). The commands of Jesus and the commands of the Father were not meant to be disregarded because of grace, but to be kept close in the heart.

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" (Romans 6:1, NIV)

I do urge this not to be taken too sharply as a statement that a New Testament believer should follow every law, including the dietary requirements, of the Old Testament. It is more leveraged at the importance that a believer is truly convinced that they should be operating in a way that they are the face of God to the lost and unbelieving world.

"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14, NIV)

For both to exist a believer should focus more on the why not to sin than the command not to sin. Refusing to live in sin is out of respect for the sovereignty of God, and also an outward expression to the unbelieving people of the world to show them something different. Making believers a people defined by love, and right living. Not hate, judgment, and hypocrisy.

But my prayers are not answered!

Are you sure? Absolutely, without a doubt sure that God has not answered your prayers?

Look at it this way. When praying that prayer that was not answered, did you consider whether or not that prayer was in line with Scripture? Really?

"God, I lied to my business partner. Please don't let him find out so I can get the promotion, then I'll tell them."

"God, please, I really want them to say yes to date me so that we can have sex."

"God, I don't like my car anymore. I really like that BMW my boss drives, if you would bless my finances so that I can get one like it. Maybe if your will allows it a newer one."

(Yes, all of these examples are meant to be exaggerations.)

REALLY!?

Let me clear this up for you if your prayers are anything like that. God said NO.

No, that is not being harsh to say God says no to your prayers. He answered them, you just were not aligned with him in it. These type of prayers are not aligned with the will of God.

Hey! My prayers are not like that!

Yes, it cannot be said that God is not answering your prayers because your prayers are solely selfish. What about the ones that are in compassion, love, and pleading for a miracle?

The thing is, you are praying God's will. I know that you know to say that, but do you mean it?

To mean it, is to be ready to accept it. God has a plan for everyone and everything. Even though, that plan may require him to say no to some prayers regarding the sick.

Stopping to say, I sincerely send all my condolences to those have lost loved ones, and that it is hard to fathom watching a loved one pass on in spite of the prayers offered. I have yet to go through this personally, but I have seen it. God has a bigger plan, and it may hurt us sometimes. It may force us to grieve. It may force us to hurt.

This part of God's will is not something we can just open the Bible and say, "There it is!" so easily. It is part of His character the Christian has to accept and observe in the scriptures. God does this because he loves the world, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV). God sent his only son so that the world could receive salvation as a free gift. Your loss may be the catalyst for another person nearby to receive that free gift. But, if you are not fully submitted to His will and allow anger to overtake you that nearby unbeliever may not receive the character of God as good at all.

Do I REALLY represent the face of God?

Let that question linger for a moment.

Another way to ask that question is this, "AM I representing the face of God, really?" Decisions made by a Christian are important. These decisions, even the one that is made in private will have an impact to those around them. Some decisions may not have immediate, or even extreme impact to those around, but they do have some result.

When a believer sins, knowing that they should not. It is not far from standing up on a soapbox and declaring, "I became convinced of God, but I don't love him enough to take him seriously!"

Back to prayer, a believer has to keep the commands of God in them. That big if from earlier did include a requirement stated "my words remain in you," (John 15:7, NIV). By this, the kingdom of heaven is brought to Earth. By right-living, the unbelieving world will see a people different from themselves. A people who has a standard of living outside of human desires.

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" (James 2:14, NIV)

Do you believe God gives what you need?

Prayer is activated by faith. Believers should be adamantly defensive of the truth that God will answer prayers in what they need. However, this is the kicker. It is truly about what is needed, not wanted. Inevitably though, there are going to be some wants that believers will pray for. We all do it. There is not a literal scale that can be pulled out to determine if the desires that are being prayed for are appropriate or not, but there are principles to meditate on.

First, desires have different sources. Some desires are of the flesh or to modernize it better our natural and instinctive side or cultural influences. Other desires are planted by God. "For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (Philippians 2:13, NIV). If a desire is not from God then in his ways why would it be given? Desires that are planted by God are there to fulfill his purpose. Since they are there for that reason, His Will requires it.

This is where a believer relies on wise counsel, and discernment when it is there.

Praying for Karma?

Even and subconscious or heart-level desire to see someone who did wrong by you is failing to forgive them as was given to you by the death on the cross. This is a good time to look back and feel a little guilty. Christians are not supposed to hold grudges, or pass judgement. Only God can hold the judgement seat.

We have a model for prayer

""This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. " (Matthew 6:9–13, NIV)

1. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" – Acknowledgment of who God is, and His holiness.
   
2. "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," – Aligning ourselves with His will.
   
3. "Give us today our daily bread," – Daily provision and supplying our needs. Accepting the promise from God.
   
4. "And forgive us our debts," – Asking forgiveness, humbly admitting we're not perfect.
   
5. "As we also have forgiven our debtors," – Extending forgiveness under the witness of God.
   
6. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one," – Praying protection from temptations and desires not of God.
   

Perhaps you caught on, perhaps you did not, but this entire post is angled at mirroring this model. If you did not catch on you may take an interest in skimming back over the previous sections.

Conclusion

In closing, this post I hope will help you. This is a huge passion for me. It is NOT that I believe people pray wrong, but more that some have an unhealthy perception of it. Prayer is time to commune with the Father. It is time to be reverent. It is time to align with Him and be His. It is time to declare his promises extended to all of us in our lives. It is a time to accept his forgiveness for our daily sin and to forgive others. It is a time to admit, "I can't do it alone God, I need you, I love you, you know better than I could ever come up with. Please work in my life while I work in your kingdom under your will."