I was reading some of the writings of Charles Finney today.  He was a famous revivalist preacher from the 1800’s.  It made me think about some of the people I see in our churches.  They are miserable.  No wonder our churches are struggling.  Who would want to be like them?  Not me.  I like being happy.  The question is why are so many of us in the Church of Jesus Christ so miserable?  Or more to the point, what do we need to get un-miserable?  What is needed for us to have the joy we all seek and that the Bible says we can have?

I think our bottom line problem is that we don’t believe what the Bible says, and if we do believe it, we don’t do what it says.  Look at Mark 11:24, in the NIV it says, “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”  That verse is hard enough, but then comes the next one; v.25, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  In those verses are two simple things we need to do to receive the answers to our prayers.  The first is that we have to actually believe that we have, not will, but have received it.  That is very difficult for us because we are filled with skepticism.  Plus we have the lies of Satan, and the unbelieving world, around us to try and convince us that any previously answered prayer was just a coincidence, nothing more.  We are called to believe based on both faith AND evidence from his previous actions.  The second is that we must forgive anything against anyone.  -WOW- We forget how huge forgiveness is.  Anytime you start taking your relationship with Jesus Christ for granted, remember, it is based upon his forgiveness of your wrongs toward Him and the Father.  After that, take an inventory and see, is forgiveness really that easy for you?  Do you really let go of any and all wrongs ever done against you?  It is really very hard for us to do that.  We like to hold grudges.  We are called to forgive, regardless.

Another obstacle to our answered prayers (i.e. our joy) is once again found in ourselves.  James 4:2b-3, “You do not have, because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”  Once again, there are two things here.  The first is that we just don’t ask.  Seriously consider this, what would make you happy?  What do you need to be happy?  Start there, I know it can be a slippery slope, but the next verse puts it in check.  I don’t need power or money, because what I’ve seen of these things shows me that they only lead to a desire for more and more of each.  That’s not peace, that’s a compounding snowball of greed.  Not the answer I am looking for.  What defines joy is peace plus hope.  Peace in what I have plus the hope of what God will do next.  Peace comes with freedom.  I would say freedom from fear, debt, anger, and despair.  So have you asked God for this peace?  Have you asked him for a double portion of his Holy Spirit as Elisha did?  You will have this and more if you will ask.  But what about the second part there, the part about asking with wrong motives.  How do I know if my motives are pure?  Different ways.  You already know if you are praying an excess of money or power that you intend to use to pat yourself on the back with, that is not going to come from Him.  But when you ask in accordance with what the Bible says is the will of God the Father or God the Son, then you know that God wants to do that already.  So, why do you want the thing you have said will make you happy?  You must answer that. 

God wants to bless us all.  The thing is he didn’t call all of us to be rich, or powerful, or even well known or well liked.  He did call us all to faith in Jesus Christ, and to give all we have for his Kingdom and Glory.  So today, when you pray, do you believe you have received it?  And do you pray for his glory of for yours?  Jesus said in Matthew 20:28, “… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  And we are called to be like him.  Now, Do you get what you pray for?

Today’s Bible Reading:  John 15

Tags: answered prayer, answers to prayer, get what you pray for, prayer