06/10/2025
Am I seeking the Lord as I should? Am I asking Jesus for the things that are right in the eyes of God? This morning, I am asking myself these questions among others and seeking to place Him foremost in my thought-life as I pray and walk this world. How can we pray right if we don’t think right, and how can we think right if we don’t focus right on God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 ESV
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
Luke 11:9-10 KJV
Over the years I have prayed for many things and many people, but I am drawn to ask one question today... were my prayers offered up within God's will and way, or were they centered on myself or perhaps the worldly wants of others? This is a very tough question, it is often hard to pray in full knowledge that I we are asking God to help us (or others) in something that is needed to serve Him better, and not just something we want... something that makes our physical lives more pleasant yet might conflict with what God ultimately has planned for us and those we pray for. When is feeding the hungry God’s will, and when is it ours?
Years ago at work I was up for a promotion; it meant a better job and more money with which I could support my young family. So, I went to the Lord in prayer asking Him to intercede on my behalf and grant me that job. Finally, the decision was made, and I was not the candidate who was selected for the promotion. I was disappointed and asked God why He hadn't answered my prayer as Jesus had promised.
Years passed by before, on one reflective evening following prayer, I was drawn back to that day and was prompted by the Holy Spirit to look at my life since God had remained silent while I prayed for my will and had been spared that one opportunity. Given the benefit of the passage of time and the alternate roads I had been led down by the Spirit, and God’s will since, I could see clearly why God had not answered as I would have liked, and how other paths had been opened to me, and all the good that had sprung from them. I saw how that one lost promotion had changed my entire life, and how what I had once thought to be an unanswered prayer, had opened new doors and increased my relationship with God while feeding my righteousness. I saw the various hardships and the unanswered prayers that had followed but which hadn’t truly been God’s will for me either, and at that moment I suddenly understood that my prayer had been answered after all, and I saw that I would not be where I was, both in my life and in my walk with the Lord had my will been done that day when I asked for the promotion.
You see, each crossroads I revisited that evening in the Spirit, even those that had looked on their surface like simple choices, had been between two diverse roads, one that would have taken me to something better for myself and my family, and another one that had tempting benefits, but would have led me astray in my faith or not prospered me near as much in my life and spirit. So, with this revelation fresh in my mind, heart, and spirit, I then prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for my past disappointments and all the right roads that had been opened up to me were as a result of those which had been closed and denied me. I prayed that night that the Lord would forgive me for those times when I had stubbornly asked “Why Lord?”. And I saw on that night of Spirit led reflection that my Heavenly Father had answered me then, and was answering me now as I heard Him say... "I was drawing you nearer to me."
When our prayers aren't answered as we would like, do we get bitter, or do we ask God to show us why? And when He gives us His answer, are we prepared to receive it, or are we still too fixed on losing the immediate gratification of our own will to hear him say "that wasn't good for you, I was drawing you nearer to me."?
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
James 4:3-4 KJV
The things of this world should not be our ultimate goal. Our hearts, minds, and desires should all be in alignment with what God has in store for us through His perfect will. When our prayers don't seem to be answered are we really certain they weren't? Did we seek His will before praying?
I once worked for an ungodly man. He tormented me and I asked God to deliver me from Him... finally my prayers shifted, and I stopped praying for my own deliverance but began to pray for this man’s soul instead. The more I prayed for him, the more he seemed to mistreat me, and yet I continued to pray each day. From my perspective it never appeared that God changed this man, but I could see that He was certainly changing me. All of those illusive unanswered prayers had resulted in an increase in my faith that would not have come otherwise. If you had asked me on any of those days of suffering if God was great, I would have said "yes", but if you were privy to my prayers and asked me if God was answering my prayers concerning this man I would have said "no"... but all the while I had faith that one day He would. Eventually God provided for me and moved me away from this man, but not before His lesson regarding praying for my enemies was complete in me. I still pray for this old boss that mistreated me, I haven't given up on the fact that God has a plan for Him too.
“And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:1 ESV
You see, the will of God superseded my shortsighted desire for personal relief from suffering; God's answer to my prayers was far greater than anything I could have imagined for myself when I first began to pray them.
Today Let’s ask the Lord to sift our prayers. Those that fall through and are immediately answered are those that conform to His will, but the others remain in the sifter and roll around until at last they too are reshaped and fall through. We can be certain that some will not fall until the moment of our last breath, while others will be tossed away, but we can remain confident that at that moment when they conform to His will they will all be answered... because that is God's promise and His perfect will for us.
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 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.”
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for answering prayer, and I thank you for your will for me. You are merciful and good Lord, and you work all things for good in my life... even through my wayward prayers. Holy Father, open my eyes to your plan and will for my faith and life, but if I should remain blind to it... continue to work your good purposes for me. Sift my prayers Lord and never let my poor eyesight harm our relationship, work all my prayers until they are reshaped and fit perfectly into your plan and will because you are good and your will is perfect. I trust in you Abba, and I know that if I suffer there is always a good reason. You are not arbitrary, nor will you allow harm to come to me that will not result in a greater good. If it be your will, open my eyes to your hidden purposes, but if that is not your will, then give me enough faith to trust blindly in your having answered in my best interest as it pertains to your glory and our eternal relationship. You are my great God, and in your hands, I remain confident in your provision and protection. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, and your mercy and grace are enough for me. Holy are you who hears me when I pray and sifts my prayers until they are fine as confectioner’s sugar, and able to meet your every desire without fail or imperfection. Help me to know your will as I pray Father, so that when you answer I will give you all the glory and not be tempted to claim it, or believe that your glorious victory through them is mine in any way. I pray this and all my prayers in the name of Jesus and that your will be done.
Amen
“he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king's matter.”
Daniel 2:22-23 ESV
Rich Forbes