Book 4 of Musings God Answers Prayer

Whenever an individual, Christian or not, if he is not disobeying God's will as he or she understands it, asks God for help, the Father hears this cry.

He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing.

The Lord Jesus informed us that if we ask anything in His name, He will do it.

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:13-14)

The above is a remarkable statement. I suppose when we first come to Jesus we are persuaded it is absolutely true. But after the years have passed, and many of our prayers are not answered, we still believe it but we don't really expect it to work just like it says. Am I correct in this?

Since God said it, it is just as true as John 3:16. We are betting our lives that John 3:16 is true, so why shouldn't John 14:13 and 14 be just as true.

Well, are the two verses true or not? This is the question.

We know God cannot lie. Jesus said He would do whatever we asked in His name. He said further that we could ask anything in His name and He would do it.

Let's think about this a little bit.

We need to recognize that of late we have gotten away from asking Jesus. We have been trying to manipulate our environment with "words of faith." We look to faith instead of to the Person of Jesus. This is not Christian. It may be closer to occult religions than it is to Christianity.

We do not call on faith, we call on Jesus.

The Lord did not say how soon He would answer. I believe time is an important consideration. Is it true, perhaps, that some things you asked for in time past you are glad now you didn't get? Perhaps so. Then you can see the goodness of God in not answering your prayer, can't you?

Many times our prayers are not our true prayers. We may be praying for a new car. God may see that we don't really need a new car at this time, that we are desiring to impress other people or have some other unworthy motive.

The Apostle James said we do not have what we want because we do not ask God. And when we do ask God, our prayer, although uttered in Jesus' name, is not righteous.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3)

The Lord told us in a parable that we have to ask, and keep on asking, and keep on knocking, and keep on seeking. I think the reason for this is God wants to know if we really mean what we are praying or if it is just a passing whim.

Sometimes God waits until time and experience modify our prayers so they are closer to what we truly desire.

Then too, I believe the moment we pray in Jesus' name, and God sees the request is righteous and will accomplish what we desire, the great wheels of God begin to turn. Maybe many factors have to be put into place before our prayer can be answered. Maybe we ourselves have to be changed so we can properly receive and maintain the gift of God. Perhaps the answer will come in the next life.

My point is, that since Jesus said He would do whatever we asked, the answer will come sooner or later, if the prayer is worthy and truly what we desire, and will not change after a year or two.

Several years ago, as I was walking and praying one morning in Palo Alto, California, I asked the Lord to permit me to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom wherever people breathe the air. I was teaching fifth grade at the time.

This was before the invention of the personal computer and the Internet.

Now I am much closer to this being a reality. I am a full-time pastor. We have our web site, the weekly sermon on the Internet, Eddie Reiter's discipleship class on the Internet, our daily E-mail essay, the thousands of books and booklets we send free of charge to third-world countries, the sermons in our own church and the preparation of disciples who understand the word of the Kingdom, the monthly mailers we send out free of charge, the books and booklets we sell, the audio tapes, and the video tapes.

We hear from people in distant lands. The printed word has the ability to reach more people than ever would be true of our physical presence.

So the prayer that was uttered one morning in Palo Alto, without any understanding of how such a thing could possibly come to pass, is being answered. I firmly believe God will grant to me the ability to bring the word of the Kingdom wherever people breathe the air, because I asked for this in the name of Jesus.

Also, while in Bible school as a young man I told the Lord that I would like to perform the greater works that He promised. I have not seen this yet or anything close to it. But I believe for it and I am not changing! The ball is in the Lord's court concerning this matter of the greater works. I have put in my request in His name, and that is all I can do.

I believe, and I shall receive.

So God is in the business of answering prayer. He delights in giving us the desires of our heart. But first He has to change us so the answer will not destroy us. Does that make sense to you?

Don't think God won't answer you, or that your request is too trivial or too grandiose, or you are not worthy, or whatever else you can come up with to defeat yourself.

Consider the almightiness of God. God has told you that you can ask what you will and He will do it. Don't limit God. He can do anything. Make sure you are asking for what you truly desire. Always say, "Not my will but yours be done." After all, if the answer will harm you, you don't want to force God to give it to you.

Dance with the Lord. Lift up the parable of your prayer. Interact with the Spirit of God. Let God show you what you really desire, and then He will answer.

In the second Psalm, the Father asked the Son to pray for the nations and the uttermost parts of the earth.

The best prayers you will ever pray are those God invites you to pray.

Maybe you have gone through a long, dry, imprisonment. You are somewhat pessimistic about God answering your prayers. You have been denied, denied, denied. Maybe God is angry with you or has left you.

God is not angry with you He will never leave you. He delights in you. He has been chastening you that you might be a partaker of His holiness.

So cast aside your self-pity, if such is hindering you, and come boldly to the Throne of Grace. Do a little window shopping. Try to imagine the most wonderful gift you would want to receive. Then ask the Lord for it in Jesus' name.

If it is good for you, and if it is truly what you want, you will receive in God's time. If it is not quite the best, not truly what you want (although you don't realize this), keep praying. God hears what you really are praying and will keep encouraging you until the answer comes.

We have not because we don't ask, the Apostle wrote.

So begin asking that your joy may be full.

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalms 145:16)