Mar 5 - "3 Answers to Prayer

Matthew 7: 7-12
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
*******************************

Why does it seem that sometimes prayers go unanswered? Did God not hear the prayer? Was the prayer not "worthy"? Praying for the "wrong" things?

I believe one of the simplest, most "successful" prayers goes as follows: "Lord, as I struggle with this issue in my life, I pray to know Your will and your plan for me. When I hear You answer this prayer, give me strength to follow Your will. As I follow your will, Father, keep me in Your loving care. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen".

One way to look at this prayer could be "Yeah right...that's too easy...it is so vague, of course it will be answered." Sort of like, "any port in a storm."
When we pray for something specific...recovery from illness, reconciliation of relationship, a lifting of guilt, removal of pain, or even safety of a loved one, positive outcome of a tough situation...what happens when we think the prayer has gone unanswered? The worry that a prayer being unanswered can sometimes cause us not to pray due to the fear of being disappointed. What if God does not answer my prayer? Am I a bad person? Maybe God does not exist? All of these are questions that can cause us to not step fully into prayer; to give up our fear and place our hope, our trust in the One True God.

But seriously, it really feels like prayers don't get answered sometimes. Is it the lack of an answer or more truthfully, that we did not like the answer?

One of my favorite sayings (not sure who said it, so I cannot give rightful credit...all I will say is it's not me): "God has three answers to prayer - 'Yes', 'Not Yet' or 'I have something better in mind'."

So, don't be scared you won't get an answer. Pray. Pray openly and securely, because God WILL answer. Pray knowing that when He answers, you will receive the full measure of blessing from Him that will be more than you can ask or imagine.