Does God Answer Prayer?

This question ranks right up there with some of the most inquisitive of life's questions. There is not an atheist living that hasn't at one time in their life hoped God answered prayers. Let's examine the question in light of God's word and how it relates to us. First and foremost God is not in the business of quick fixes, nor, is He a genie in a bottle. We perceive the world in three dimensions using our five senses, touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. When any of our senses are stimulated, the experience is instantly stored in our brain for further reference that can be called upon to form a thought. We continue to learn throughout our life within three dimensions and five senses. Anything else is speculation. Therefore, our thoughts are not like God's thoughts. “The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours. Your ways are not like mine. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8,9) Our view of life is limited to our environment whereas God governs multiple universes. He sees the beginning and end of things at the same time for the greater good of His creation. “ In the beginning, I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that have not happened yet. When I plan something, it happens.”(Isaiah 46:10) He views an individual's life in the same way and will guide that person through life one step at a time if He’s allowed too. “The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.”(Psalms 37:23) Jesus prayed, if there be another way could he avoid death on the cross? The answer was no for the greater good of humanity. “Then Jesus went on a little farther away from them. He fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, don’t make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want.”(Matt. 26:39)

Because of our limited perception of God's plan, we often pray against His will and are disappointed in the answer. It's here, where our faith that God knows best must take over. Trusting that God has our best interest in mind is more reliable than the words we used to pray with. God knows our needs before we ask. “ And when you pray, don’t be like the people who don’t know God. They say the same things again and again. They think that if they say it enough, their god will hear them.  Don’t be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”(Matt. 6:7-8) As a young school teacher that needed to work in the summer months, I leased and managed a public swimming pool. The success of my summer business depended on the weather, so early every morning I would go to the pool and pray that if it rained that day it would be before or after pool hours. My pool was very successful and I made a good income. By the time the second season came, I had realized that it was God's will I succeed. I went to the pool a few days before the pool was to open for the season and thanked Him for another successful year. It was the first and only time I prayed over the pool that year. My pool business was equally successful in the second year. I learned a valuable lesson. Asking God for help is simply an application of faith. Once I asked, I then trusted God to keep His Word. Jesus had an encounter with a Roman soldier who knew He was the son of God. The soldier requested Jesus to heal his dying assistant. “Then the officer said, “Sir, I am not worthy to have you in my home; and you don’t need to come. If you will only stand here and say, ‘Be healed,” Jesus stood there amazed! Turning to the crowd he said, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all the land of Israel! (Matt.8:8-10) The officer's assistant was healed that day because he applied faith to his request. The apostle James summed it up like this. “If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.  But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to tell you, for a doubtful mind will be as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind; and every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.”(Jam.1:5-8) Remember, God’s ways are not like ours, the answer may not look the way we think it should but it will always be the right way. It is God’s will that we ask his help but we can’t be double-minded, we must believe and trust for the answer. For more about a strong relationship with God read “Beam me up Commander” it's free.