Pastor Samuel Ajayi of Christ Apostolic Church, Mountain of Fulfillment Owo, on Sunday delivered a thought-provoking sermon on the reasons why God hears prayers but doesn't always answer them.
According to him "One reason God doesn't answer our prayers is to humble us.
Citing the example of Apostle Paul, who had an infirmity in his life and prayed for God to remove it, Ajayi said" but God responded by saying, "My Grace is sufficient for you". This shows that God's priorities might differ from ours, and His response may not always align with our expectations.
"Another reason God might not answer our prayers is if our motives are wrong. If we're praying with selfish intentions, such as wanting to oppress our neighbors, God won't answer our prayers. James 4:3 in the Bible supports this, stating that when we ask, we don't receive because we ask with wrong motives, that we may spend what we get on our pleasures.
"God's timing is also a crucial factor in prayer. Sometimes, our prayer requests might not align with God's timing, and He will only make everything beautiful in His own time, not ours. This requires patience and trust in God's sovereignty. As Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord".
Pastor Ajayi emphasized the need for men to turn prayer into a habit,
"Men need to be addicted to prayer, not just men who only come to God during times of need.
Sin can also hinder our prayers. According to Psalm 24:3-4, "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully." Isaiah 59:1-2 also reminds us that "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."
God may delay answers to prayer to teach us how to stay with Him. This delay can be an opportunity for us to deepen our relationship with God and trust in His goodness. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose".
"It's essential to understand that God hears all prayers, but He doesn't answer all prayers in the way we expect. Sometimes, the answer might be "no" or "wait," but this doesn't mean God is not listening. As 1 Peter 3:7 suggests, our prayers may be hindered if we don't treat others with understanding and honor.
"When faced with unanswered prayers, we should reflect on our requests and consider if there's a need to reevaluate what we're asking for. Are our requests aligned with our values and goals? Are there underlying motives that need to be addressed?
"Ultimately, we need to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even when our prayers aren't answered as we expect. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".
"Prayer is not just about getting what we want, but about deepening our relationship with God. By understanding the reasons why God might not answer our prayers, we can cultivate a more nuanced and trusting approach to prayer.
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