03-04-2008, 04:06 PM
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#303
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 596
Rep Power: 1 
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PRACTICAL NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY
MESSAGE #26
GETTING ANSWERS TO PRAYER
Not an easy task for most of us! I've spent a lot of time over the past 20 years on this important matter. Made numbers of mistakes, confused myself, got things wrong - but here are a few things I've discovered that I've found to really help.
1. God does have His 'still small voice' as the Scriptures say. If you're not listening well, or talking too much, or simply 'not tuned in', you'll likely quite miss what He's saying. He's NEVER shouted to me, not even once!
2. Faith is obviously basic. If you're asking for guidance, you DO have to believe He'll give it! BUT...
3. With my faith fairly okay, I've so often purely and simply TRIED TOO HARD! This is a dreadful trap. Can you see why? I tried too hard. Get it? In doing so I got in the way so much that I kept missing what He was trying to tell me! (I bet He was feeling frustrated! *smile*) Trust and relax. Ask, then REST.
4. Don't ask for things you already have! I'd love five bucks for every time I've heard a prayer along these lines, "Lord, please be with us as we drive home." Don't be silly, He's already gonna do that! Some kind of thankyou prayer (He loves them, and doesn't get anywhere near enough!) may be much more appropriate: "Lord, thankyou that You'll be with us as we travel home!"
5. At the other end of the scale are the prayers that are out of order - and are NEVER gonna get answered! To know what to not pray, you have to know the New Testament. Yes, big ask, but there's just no shortcut to this. "I asked, but He didn't answer." Yes, cos you asked wrong. Get to know the New Testament till it's part of YOU! Then HE will be part of you as well, and you'll know what is RIGHT to ask, and how to ask it.
6. Provided you're 'not asking amiss' (James 4:3a) then PERSIST. Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive." Matthew 7:7a. And here's an excellent reason to choose The Amplified Bible as your study tool. It expands the Greek so you can learn that He's really saying here. It's "Ask and keep on asking, and you will receive." Thus to PERSIST is actually in the New Testament!
7. Another trap: US trying so hard to find the answer - this simply NOT being your job! Your task is to ASK. It's God's task to ANSWER! Then let Him answer, okay!! Don't we so easily get SO involved in trying to get the right answer that God ends up not even getting a look in!! Then we wonder why we're still unsure...
So... don't try too hard, but don't give up either. Keep on asking. But make sure you're not asking it wrong: selfishly, for the flesh, 'to consume it on your lusts' as James 4:3 finishes with. Ask in faith. Be restful, AND WAIT FOR THE ANSWER. Wait for GOD to give you the answer: it's not your job to find it!
Hope my experiences may be of some help.
With much love!
- BM, with his best Supporter 
QUESTIONS WELCOME!
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Last edited by Bondman; 03-07-2008 at 01:58 PM.
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