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Sharon Lee

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When GOD Says NO,,, Then What??
5/7/2007 2:35:00 PM
When God Says No! God Says No, Then What?

I heard a story recently about a young girl who wrote a letter to a missionary to let him know that her class had been praying for him. But evidently she'd been told not to request a response to her letter because the missionaries were very busy. So the missionary got a kick out of her letter. It said, "Dear Mr. Missionary, we are praying for you. But we are not expecting an answer."




Does this sound familiar? This small girl represents a lot of “believers” in a mighty God. Often prayers are uttered without a thought as to getting an answer, let alone the one we are seeking. Too often we pray idly without expecting an answer at all. The sweet Palmist David said, “I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.” (Psalm 116:1). While reading through the Bible, people many times wonder if God is tuned in to them. Oh, we read that he heard great men in the Old Testament and are familiar with the New Testament’s teaching on prayer, but somehow we disconnect when trying to put the concept on a personal level.

Can we actually know that our prayers are answered? Sometimes our prayers are offered for problems we expect an immediate answer to. We pray for the sick expecting them to fully recover. A bad relationship seems hopeless and we ask for a complete turnaround, today! Our debt is more than we can bear so we ask God to “fix it.” If these petitions and similar ones do not turn out as expected, how do we react or explain that?

I have heard all my life that there are three ways in which God answers prayer. First, He may reply by answering “yes.” Then comes the dreaded “no” answer. Finally the confusing, “maybe, in My time, not yours” reply is received. The yes answer we quickly jump for joy over. The “wait awhile” answer allows us to remain hopeful. What about a “no” response? What then?

For the active, believing Christian there is not such thing as an unanswered prayer. Surprised? A clear “no” simply implies that God knows what is best better than we.
When it seems we have received a “no” it is often actually a “wait a while.” We are so disappointed that we are infuriated with God and fail to see His plan. We become instantly vulnerable to the evil one. He pounces with statements like; “where is your God now? Has your God forsaken you? Why do you trust Him even though He is not here? Resist the Devil. Allow God to work in His own time and trust His judgment.

It is highly likely that many of you are fighting a battle right now with this very issue, even as I am. It has been days, weeks, months or even years and we seem to think it hopeless for ever getting an answer.

We mustn’t view God as a buffet line or put Him in our “fast food” category. This will only breed disappointment and resentment. "This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (I John 5:14)

He is listening. Are you waiting and listening properly for His answer?
Make a great day,

Mike

You can view Mike's Daily Blessings at http://www.TheWoods.phpbbnow.com

Inspirations from Mike Bumbalough. Mike is a dear friend and a Adlandpro member. Please invite Mike to your friends list here:

 http://community.adlandpro.com/go/papaof7/ 

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Danny Mills

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Re: When GOD Says NO,,, Then What??
5/7/2007 2:54:19 PM

I think God always answers prayer. Either by not answering or by giving us what we need and exactly when we need it. Some times we ask for things that do not concern Him because He wants us to understand what we should pray to Him about and what not to pray to Him about. He want us to be decision makers and to make decisions based on His instructions He has givien us through examples in the bible.

I have discovered that true happiness is in trusting God to be there for us when we really need Him. In knowing that the instructions He has given us have greater purpose and meaning then we can understand and that by following those instructions we are trusting God.  It's a full circle relationship.

Dan

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Re: When GOD Says NO,,, Then What??
5/7/2007 11:18:58 PM
Be careful what you ask for, you just may get it...then you realize its not what you want after all! oops! He does know whats best for us!
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Sharon Lee

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Re: When GOD Says NO,,, Then What??
5/8/2007 8:55:24 AM

Sylvia, Those words do have some truth to them. Its the temptation that we all see first,, The envy of the eye. But what happens behind the closed doors is for all to guess.

Peace, Sharon

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