Thank You, Father, for a wonderful day! We finally had the opportunity to enjoy some time together celebrating Karen’s birthday (note original post date below) after a nice time of worship. Thank You for traveling mercies to and from. Thank You for the blessings of each other.
Matthew 7:9-11 (<<click here to read the passage)
Several years ago, when I served as a Children’s Pastor (one of the greatest jobs I have ever had!), we coordinated a children’s revival with adult revival services. A wonderful evangelist and his wife ministered to us, and several children dedicated their lives to Christ!
In one message, he addressed prayer and the three answers God gives us when we pray. He answers – YES, NO, or WAIT. Some 20 years later, that precept still sticks with me; our speaker didn’t just touch the hearts of children.
As I read the study notes in my Application Study Bible, they pointed out one reason God says “No.” In Jesus’ illustration, the children ask for good things, but “if the children had asked for a poisonous snake, would the wise father have granted their request? Sometimes God knows we are praying for ‘snakes’ and does not give us what we ask for, even though we persist in our prayers. Nor will God give us ‘stones’ or ‘snakes’ instead of what we need.”
I truly believe that there are times when we ask for detrimental things out of ignorance, and our wise Father answers accordingly. I also believe there are times when we deliberately ask for things that are outside God’s will for our lives in a lame attempt to justify our sin.
One example that I heard a pastor refer to in a sermon was an individual who was asking for God’s blessing on an extramarital affair. They were no longer “in love” with their spouse and had found their “true love.” God’s blessing was not to be found.
Lord, we could fit all kinds of examples here. How many times do we do the same thing when we know that it is not within Your will to grant our request? Help us, Lord. May we know Your will and live it out accordingly. And may we not be disheartened when Your answer is, “No,” but may we trust You and acknowledge that You truly want what is best for us. Amen.
(Feb 11th, 2018, Sun, 7:25 pm)
Oct 18th, 2026, Sun, 7:52 pm
