Is Prayer a last Hope Thing?

 

1 John 5:15-16

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Confidence, is that what is lacking in my life and maybe yours when it comes to prayer?  Is prayer a last hope thing, does the need have to be so great before we stop and pray?  And when we pray do we believe God cares about us, about you?  If we are intellectually honest, then it is clear that God knows all, is always present, and is all-powerful, knows our thoughts, our needs, and our circumstances, so that being true, why are our prayers not being answered?   My first thought is he just does not care, have you ever come to that conclusion?  If those thoughts are invading your mind look to the Scriptures and see if that voice is in agreement with the word of God:

• God continually calls us to come to Him with our burdens and find rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:28 & 29)

• He invites us to cast our worries on Him because He cares. (1 Peter 5:7)
• He invites us to come to His throne and ask for mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
• He will be our Comforter in sorrow when our heart is faint. (Jeremiah 8:18)
• He offers strength when we are weak. (Philippians 4:13)
• He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

So if he cares why are my prayers going unheard, could the problem be my lack of confidence when I pray, or could it be some other reason:

• Husbands should always know that God will not answer the prayers of a husband who is not showing honor to his wife.  1Peter 3:7 

• Unbelief will keep God from listening to your request; Matthew 21:22, James 1:6-8

• We ask with wrong motives: James 4:3

• Unconfessed sin keep God from hearing our prayers: Isaiah 59:1-2

• When we have the ability to help someone in need and don’t God tells us He will not answer our prayers: Proverbs 21:13

• We don’t remain in God, then His word does not remain in us, and without that we have no confidence, and our prayers go no where: John 15:7
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If you and I are abiding, in agreement with Scripture then we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, and we know we have the requests that we ask of Him, so it’s time to be thankful, with confidence that your prayer is answered.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice