“And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” I John 5:14
May 23, 2025
“The sovereign God has chosen to limit Himself in several ways (the preaching of the Gospel, for example). He has ordained and commanded that believers should pray. The exercise of prayer is woven into the very fabric of God’s method of operation for His Church, His people, His world” (Ivan French). Why then may our prayers not be answered? Because there are times when our request violates the revealed will of God. Do we think we have a “Carte Blanche” with God, i.e., that we can get anything we ask for? Our prayer may be a violation of a promise (Gen. 17:18). Abraham prayed for a substitute to God’s miracle. His son would be through Sarah. He would not be through Ishmael. Failure to receive an answer to our prayers may be due to a lack of compassion (Prov. 21:13). When we cry out to God for mercy and have not shown it, do we think we will receive it? This may be seen in greediness and a miserly attitude. Unresolved problems in our marital relationships can be an hindrance to effective praying (1 Pet. 3:1-7). Are our family relationships what they ought to be?
H
“I pray for strength to run
In duty’s narrowest paths, nor turn aside
In broader ways that glow in pleasure’s sun,
Lest I grow satisfied,”
William Edward Biederwolf