Unanswered Prayers
UNANSWERED PRAYERS
There are probably millions of people who ask every day and who pray in earnest everyday that have their prayers go unanswered. Let’s face it, most prayers do go unanswered. So why do prayers go unanswered? Why bother praying, it does no good you say because God just doesn’t answer prayers. Is there an answer as to why most prayers go unanswered? Yes, there is. Will most people accept the only true Scriptural teaching on this subject? Probably not.
There are many clichés regarding prayer. It is said that God has one of three answers for all prayers: Yes, No or Later. One that might be close is Your way, My way, or No way.
Christians and non-Christians alike believe that they can change the mind of God who always knows long in advance how He will fulfill His perfect plan and purpose in all circumstances. Many imagine that answered prayer is when God changes His mind. In other words, you change your ways to please God and God will change His mind and begin blessing you. Not true. God never, ever changes His mind about anything. Read Matt. starting at 26:36 and on. Jump ahead to Matt. 26:41 where Jesus says “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
Was the flesh of Jesus any stronger than that of His disciples? No, it was the same flesh. Paul tells us that…”there is one kind of flesh of men”…(1 Cor. 15:39) Jesus was just as weak as the disciples. At Gethsemane Jesus prayed O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou will. (Mat. 26:39) Christ was suffering that night in the garden and there is the answer to all prayer. Not to do His will but the will of the Father. “I can of Mine Own Self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not to do My own will but the will of the Father which has sent Me.” (John 5:30) Again we see this: “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me” (John 6:38) Now, did Jesus pray as earnestly as it is possible to pray that God would “let this cup pass?” Yes, He did. Did God grant Jesus his desire to “let this cup pass?” No, He didn’t. Did Jesus get His prayer answered? Yes He did. How? It was because Jesus’ desire that His Father’s will be done, rather than “let this cup pass.” If it is God’s intention for you to be blessed by some particular favor, and God inspires you to pray for that favor then surely it will be given to you. If on the other hand, it was not God’s intention for you to be blessed, no amount of praying is going to change God’s mind. Either way God’s will must be done, and if that is the greatest desire of your prayer for Gods’ will to be done in your life, then whether you receive some particular favor or you don’t receive it, your prayer will be answered. I can’t honestly say that I agree/like this arrangement but regardless, that is the way things are and that is the way things will always be…THY WILL BE DONE.
Now don’t start quoting Gen. 6.6 insisting that God does change His mind-He does not.
No man in history has ever received an answer to a prayer for something from God that God did not already have in His plan to give him. A lot of churches are like mine, we say The Lord’s Prayer (THY WILL BE DONE) and then turn around and give God a grocery list of people we want prayer for and what we want it for. God already knows what is going to be asked for. We can pray that God will intercede and change something but I don’t think God is impressed with numbers or how many are praying. God will not change his mind. THY WILL BE DONE, NOT OUR WILL OR THE WILL OF MANY BUT THE WILL OF GOD AND HIS WILL ALONE.
So what then is the point of prayer? The purpose of prayer is not to change God. This is a misconception humans have. Many believe, sometimes aided by religions, rituals and ceremonies, that we can manipulate God, that we can bargain with Him. We think we can do something to get Him to change His mind. Prayer is a way for us to communicate with the holy God. It is not a tool for us to use in an attempt to change the holy and perfect God, who, of course, does not need to change. Prayer is actually a way/time for God to change our hearts. God invites us to spend time with Him in prayer. God invites us to share our concerns and requests with Him. He offers us an intimate relationship where real, heartfelt, soul-baring communication takes place. Prayer is not a time where we have a battle of will with God. Won’t what God wants to happen will happen anyway whether we pray or not? If it’s going to happen anyway why say a single word? Again, prayer is a way to experience God, to enjoy Him, to come to know Him, a time and a tool for Him to change us. Remember it is THY will be done, not MY will be done. If you always want your prayer answered then always go back to that statement.
When I started writing this I will be the first to tell you I didn’t believe in prayer but after doing research on this subject myself I am left with no choice other than to re-think my position on prayers being answered. As I believed, I am not going to change God’s mind on anything but I can communicate with Him. Sometimes old beliefs fall by the wayside when you least expect it but other beliefs stay with you. Sometimes people start to question why something is the way it is and that is what I did with this subject. You will not change God’s mind on anything so stop trying. Remember THY WILL BE DONE.
