Brothers,
I thought that you might appreciate these four points on God’s answers to our prayers. I heard them while on the road home from a Johnstown FCA Football Camp. They are from David Jeremiah. They are his points with some of my illustrating and scripture since it was a few hours later that I wrote them down. I have had too many concussions to remember support points for that long I am afraid!
Leo Wisniewksi
Director Locking Arms Men
Enter David Jeremiah
Four Answers from God
1. No- Our Father, knows all things, he loves us perfectly, his “No”, protects us and looks forward to something far better that He will provide. Consider this in the area of sex outside of marriage. Trusting God’s plan for sexual purity protects us from STD’s, children out of wedlock, abortion and a host of heartaches. Waiting provides the heart preparation for lasting marriages. Fidelity in marriage similarly protects and provides for a needed trust that is needed for a growing intimacy. Also, there may be unconfessed sin such as unforgiveness that blocks us in our prayer life making us feel God is very distant and uncaring. .
2. Slow- This answer means the timing of this prayer request needs patient trust. “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. ” (Isaiah 40:31a) Persistence in prayer may be needed. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) It will be provided in God’s time.
3. Grow- This answer means that we must mature in our faith, we must be shaped into the image of Christ more deeply before God can grant to us our request. Our desires may indeed be good such as: a spouse, a higher position, or increased ministry responsibility in the church but we are not yet ready to have success with them..
4. Go – God gives us the “green light”on our request in alignment with his will and his divine fingerprints are all over it! “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
In all of these answers: No, Slow, Grow & Go, our heavenly Father and Jesus our great prayer warrior (Hebrews 7:25), reveal a patient loving heart toward us as children of God. What is required of us is that we come daily to God’s throne and we will find grace and mercy in our need. ” Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16