Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
Yesterday we consider a faith that doesn’t ask. How is that possible someone is asking? Listen, the faith we are talking about is such that when you have prayed and you believed God that your request will be granted, it does not make Him less than God even if your desired answer was not granted. You do not need the answered prayer to believe and trust Him? The question is do you need a miracle or the spectacle move of God to know that He exists? Glory to God!
Interestingly, we will be looking at another topic that might not be too easy to accept even as a born again child of God except with the help of the Holy Spirit. How will you feel when God’s response to your prayer is “No”. True talk, no hard feelings. How? Read more:
And he killed James, John’s brother, with the sword.
When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too, during the days of Unleavened Bread.—Acts 12:2–3a
Can you accept God’s will when His answer is no? If you are praying in God’s will, He will always answer you when you pray (Jer. 33:3). However, sometimes His answer will be no.
King Herod arrested Peter and prepared to have him executed. During the night, as his church prayed, Peter’s life was spared when an angel freed him. God miraculously answered the prayers of His people that night. Yet not long before, James, too, had been arrested by Herod. James, however, was executed. Surely the church had prayed for James as fervently as they did for Peter, yet that time God’s answer had been no.
Did God love Peter more than James? Of course not, James had been one of Jesus’ closest friends. Yet God allowed James to die while He continued to use Peter in His service. The church in Jerusalem did not become bitter toward God. They accepted His answer because they trusted His love and wisdom.
There are times when God wants us to persist in our praying until He has completed His work in us (Luke 11:5–8; 18:1–6). However, when God’s answer is no, it is futile to continue pleading for a yes. Some refuse to take no for an answer, insisting that if you pray long enough and hard enough, God will ultimately grant any request you make.
It is an affront to your Lord to continue pleading with Him when He has clearly said no. The purpose of prayer is not to conform God to our will but to adjust our will to God. We must learn to trust God so that if He says no, we accept that His will is best.
Let me share my own experience with you. I encountered this situation last year. I attended an interview for a new job and I was told that I will be contacted as soon as possible. I was told that I fit into the position they needed for the moment. Having left the job I was doing, there were bills to pay and as the pressure mount on I was tempted to call the office after some time but you know is desperation and may not speak well of me. So after sharing it with a friend, we agreed that I should go before God in praying and fasting to hasten my appointment up.
So I embarked on three day dry fast, on the second day, the Lord said a “NO” to my request so I end the fasting. Someone is asking how did you take it? How did you react? I had “Peace” within me and I know that was not His plan and purpose for me at the moment. Three days later as I was still trusting Him for a way out, He gave me the vision I am running with now, which He also confirmed it through another daughter of His that He sent to clear the war and confusion going on in me after the vision was delivered. He employed me into His vine yard to do His work. I never gave it a thought that God will use me this way, you know that good girl stuff, I go to church and listen to sermons. I am a worker in my local church. Like I said I never know He will use me this way, all to His own glory.
Today I can look back and say Praise God! Not as easy as it sounds because right from that moment I went into His own school where everything that need be shaken must be shaken off and those things which cannot be shaken may remain, that is those things that can stand eternity is been process; glory to God. Read further, my dear:
“That those things which cannot be shaken may remain.” Hebrews 12:27
We have many things in our possession at the present moment which can be shaken, and it ill becomes a Christian man to set much store by them, for there is nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all things.
Yet, we have certain “things which cannot be shaken,” and I invite you today to think of them, that if the things which can be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain.
Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation. You are standing at the foot of His cross, trusting alone in the merit of Jesus’ precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can interfere with your salvation in Him; no breaking of banks, no failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a child of God today. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever rob you of that.
Although by losses brought to poverty, and stripped bare, you can say, “He is my Father still. In my Father’s house are many mansions; therefore will I not be troubled.” You have another permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He who is God and Man loves you with all the strength of His affectionate nature—nothing can affect that.
The fig tree may not blossom, and the flocks may cease from the field, it matters not to the man who can sing, “My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” Our best portion and richest heritage we cannot lose.
Whatever troubles come, let us play the man; let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by what may happen in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is Immanuel’s land, our hope is above the sky, and therefore, calm as the summer’s ocean; we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet rejoice in the God of our salvation.
Will you be able to accept a “No” from Him when it comes, yours might not be to work for Him as am doing; it may be different from that, peradventure you have found out His vision for you. He mandated me “Go and encourage My people out there as I have encouraged you”. Like I said earlier, am still in His school. Glory be to Him alone who is worthy of my praise.
Ask question where you need more clarification. God bless you.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
