If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 14:14 KJV
A question, whether asked in earnest or disingenuously, concerns prayer. Why if the Bible says “Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” do prayers go unanswered? The Bible can be like a picture puzzle; the pieces have to be put together to arrive at the whole picture. It is a test to see who will study.
John 14:13-14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
Prayer is a complex subject. There are many reasons why prayers are hindered or go unanswered. Foremost is the fact that biblical Christians are not living a biblical life. The word of God does not abide in them; it is rare that they read, and certainly do not diligently study the Bible. How can you ask according to God’s will if you have not studied and know what God’s will is? How do you know if what you ask glorifies the Father, if you have not studied and know what glorifies the Father? As a babe in Christ, there is a certain amount of leeway, but with time, the study of His word is required to guide you into all things.
Then there is always the prayer asked simply out or want to the satisfying of the flesh. If this is answered, it will be to your detriment to teach or punish. Be careful what you ask for, you may get it. If the prayer is just for a want and not a need, it is questionable whether a response would be forthcoming.
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Prayers must be in accordance with God’s will. He is not going to answer if the prayer violates His great precepts: “Love God” and “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Further, an answer may take time. The logistics of answering prayer is rarely, if ever, recognized. It can take a long time to bring about all that is needed to fulfill a prayer. View the video then replace ‘Pencil’ with ‘Prayer’.
I hope this provides some material for thought.
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