Unanswered Prayers: The Most Common Reasons Why

By Dr. Dale A. Robbins

One of the greatest benefits afforded to every Christian is the privilege of answered prayers. In the Bible, Jesus made this tremendous promise, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Matt 21:22). However, despite the Lord’s willingness to answer prayer, it is obvious that some prayers have gone unanswered. Why is this? The following are the most common reasons why some prayers do not get results:

1. Lack of Fellowship with God and His word
John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
Unanswered prayers are sometimes a result of absence from fellowship with the Lord and His Word. Jesus promised that if we would remain in His fellowship, and allow His Word to remain in us, this would produce results in prayer.

2. Not seeking to Please the Lord

1 John 3:22 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 
Answers to prayer come when we seek to keep His commandments and please the Lord with our life. This is not to suggest that we “earn” answered prayers, any more than we can earn salvation which comes only by faith (Eph. 2:8-9). He answers our prayers from his “grace” and “mercy” (Heb. 4:16), not merely from our good deeds. However, keeping His commandments and pleasing the Lord is a product of our obedience to His word, which is faith in action (James 2:20). What are His commandments? He commanded that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul, and to love our neighbor as ourself (Mark 12:30-31). Further, Jesus said we are to love our brethren as He has loved us. “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Lack of love, bitterness, unforgiveness is the root of many unanswered prayers, since faith works by love (Gal 5:6).

Food For Thought: The Law of Faith

My Beloved,

Do you want to see miracles in your life? Use the law of faith. There are laws in the spiritual realm that provide you and I with endless resources.

God's Spirit dwells in you. It's a matter of being conscious of Him. God is not going to do anything for you and I without our cooperation. He is waiting on our cooperation to accomplish great things.

God used Moses, Joshua, and other people of faith to do great things. But when they passed away and people began to backslide, God stopped manifesting His power.

God is the same for He never changes. If we cooperate with Him, He will do great things with us and through us. However, if we don't cooperate, we put ourselves at a disadvantage.

How can we cooperate with God? Start with small steps; begin to feed on God's Word daily. When our hearts are full of the Word of God and circumstances come our way, our mouth will instinctively speak the Word.

Matthew 12:35 (NIV) says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stores up in him…"

Jesus teaches us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. The kind of words that come from our mouth indicate what we have stored in our hearts.

This is a subject that I cannot cover in one blog, so I will be sharing more with you in coming weeks.

All My Love,
Sarah Marie Gardner
President and Founding Pastor
Life Christian Church


Pastor Sarah Marie Gardner's teaching is motivated by a deep love for people and a desire to show them how to walk in victory by faith in God.

Has God Spoken to You Today?

The polite part of speaking with God is to be still long enough to listen.
Edward Gloeggler

Happy Father's Day!

We want to wish all fathers a Happy Father's Day today. We hope they enjoy a special time with their families.

Many fathers want the best for their children and their wives. We recently read a blog written by Jane Hansen Hoyt, president and CEO of Aglow International. She wrote about how she and her husband kept moving until they finally moved into a town home with a beautiful view.

Just like men want the best, God wants the best for His children, too. Jane Hansen Hoyt has wonderful insights. Read her blog post here called, A Room With A View:

Salvation is For All

Romans 10: 5-13 (Good News Translation)


Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the Law: Whoever obeys the commands of the Law will live.


But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this: 
You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down). Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below? (that is, to bring Christ up from death). 


What it says is this: 
         

God's message is near you, on your lips and in your heart—that is, the message of faith that we preach. If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.

The scripture says, Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.


This includes everyone, because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all and richly blesses all who call to him.As the scripture says, Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.

Psalm 23--Living Bible

© Lostbear | Stock Free Images &Dreamstime Stock Photos

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!

He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors him the most.

Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.

You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow!

Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home.