Greetings in the name of Jesus!  What a blessing it is to be used by the Lord!

 

Have you ever wanted to do or say one thing, but it didn't come to pass?  In my case, that is the Spirit of God blocking a fumble or disaster.  I have learned not to submit to my emotions but to submit to the will of God and oh what joy and peace I have.

 

Just because you have heard of God, know how to spell His name, and have listened to messages from ministers and teachers, does not mean you are a Christian.  You have to have a personal and intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.  You have to be willing to make sacrifices, turn the other cheek, step out on faith, lean and depend, deny self, be obedient, submissive and more importantly love unconditional.  You don't have to like someone in order to love them.  You love yourself, but that doesn't necessary mean that you like you.  I love myself dearly, there are times when I don't like myself.  This happens when I put self in the way and get all caught up in mess and emotions.  This also happens when I make decisions I know I have no business making, doing things I shouldn't do and saying things that I know will hurt someone.  By the grace of God, I am doing so much better.  I have learned to bridle my tongue, pray and ask God for strength.  I also know there are many miserable people in the world and they want to make others miserable as well.  Well, guess what!  It won't happen here.  What I now do is pray and ask God for guidance.  There are so many people who have no idea how much peaceful their lives will be when they come to Jesus.  When you walk with the Lord, you don't become entangled with gossip and drama.  There are some people who always have to keep something going.  What do you do with such people?  You love them, but don't have to like their ways.  There is a battle going on inside and they don't know they have to turn it over to the Lord.  

 

Now there are reasons why sometimes our prayers are not answered.  I have written about this before, but it is in my spirit to speak on this again because there are new readers who may benefit from this and old readers who need the reminder.  

 

1. Disobedience - Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Hebrews 4.  Disobedience is defined as refusal to obey; insubordination; defiance; disregard; violation; neglect; stubbornness; unruliness; rebellion; or sabotage.  Disobedience leads to separation from God. 

 

2. Secret sins - Psalm 66:18.  Secret is defined by Webster as being kept from the knowledge of others; concealed from sight; hidden; unknown; dark, veiled; or clouded.  You may keep a secret from others, but please remember that God knows all things.  Sin is defined as the willful breaking of religious or moral law; any offense or fault; wrongdoing; wickedness; evildoing; transgression; trespass; ungodliness; unrighteousness; disobedience to the divine law; or violation of God's law.  I will talk about sin in another lesson.

 

3. Indifference - Proverbs 1:28.  Indifference comes from being indifferent which means neutral; unconcerned; of no importance; nonchalance; coldness; insensitivity; disregard; detachment; sluggishness; coldbloodedness; or disdain.  God refuses to listen to us when we sin. 

 

4. Selfishness - Proverbs 21:13; Matthew 18:23-34; Luke 16:19-31.  Selfishness is a noun to the adjective of selfish which is having or showing too much concern for one's own interests with with little concern for others.  Selfishness is also self-regard; self-indulgence or possibly self-worship.

 

5. Iniquities - Micah 3:4.  Now you may be wondering what is iniquity.  Iniquity is wickedness or an unjust act

 

6. Self-indulgence - James 4:3.  Now this is another part of being selfish.  Indulgence is the remission of punishment still due for a sin committed but forgiven.  Self-indulgence is the same as greed or waste.

 

7. Stubbornness - Zechariah 7:13.  Stubbornness is known as inflexibility; perverseness; bullheadedness; or pigheadedness. 

 

8. Instability - James 1:6-8.  Instability is a lack of firmness or determination.  It is also known as inconstancy; changeability; immaturity; inconsistency; irregularity; imbalance; unsteadiness; restlessness; anxiety; fluctuation'; impermanence; hesitation; flightiness; or wavering.

 

I don't know about you but I have experienced all of these except selfishness and self-indulgence.  I have always been one wanting and/or willing to help others.  However, because of the other six, my prayers were being unanswered.  I could have possibly saved myself a lot of pain and unhappiness if someone had been willing to teach and explain to me why our prayers are sometimes not being answered.  I didn't know what was wrong.  I didn't understand why my prayers were not being answered.  I thought God did not love me.  Until I began to study the Word of God intensely and ask God to speak to my spirit as I studied, did I begin to understand how lost I truly was.  Thank you Jesus!  I think because of this is why I am such a strong advocate for teaching and training.  Just listening and hearing the Word is not enough.  You must be obedient and apply God's Word to our lives daily.  You have to be willing to make those necessary changes.  It may include separating yourself from those who are hindering your walk with the Lord.  It may include you giving up things that are sinful.  Trust me, it does require change on your part.  It's not all about you or me, but it is all about God.

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14 (NIV) 
--