Illus: The only existing part of the original Temple of Solomon is the famous “Wailing Wall.” Orthodox Jews by the hundreds are seen at this “Wailing Wall,” pouring out their hearts unto God. One man visited the Wall every day for fifty years. However, when someone ask him if his prayers had been answered during those years, he replied, “No, it just seems my prayers have been stopping at the wall.”
Millions pray but their prayers go unanswered. Millions who once prayed admit they quit praying, for their prayers went no further than the ceiling.
How many today feel they are just praying against the wall when they pray? Many, many.
So the “Greatest Discouragement” to praying is not getting our prayers answered. Is there any way to overcome this dilemma? Absolutely, and the answer is to revisit the Lord’s Prayer and focus on the chief requirements for answered prayer:
- Focus on Who God is. Jesus says He is our Father. This means three things:
- If God is our Father, we are His children, and we become His child through the new birth. If not His child, He is not your Father and you can’t pray.
- If God is our Father, prayer is simply talking heart to heart with our Father.
- If God is our Father, we can, spiritually speaking, crawl up in His lap, look Him in the eyes, pour out our hearts to Him. He is never too busy to hear us, never rushed to limit your time with Him.
Note: Jesus was the first person ever to call God Father. The Jews used multiple names – like Jehovah Jireh , Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Raah, but they thought calling Him Father would have been blasphemous. Jesus spoke in Aramaic and the word Father in Aramaic is Abba, meaning Daddy. Relating to God as Father, even as Daddy, is the first step in getting your prayers answered.
- Focus on What God wants. His will. The purpose of prayer is not to get what we want, but to get what God wants. This is the real purpose of prayer. You can’t get anywhere in prayer until you surrender to God’s will. Illus.: Jesus always bowed to His Father’s will when He prayed. The only time Jesus struggled with this was in Gethsemane when He said to His Father, “I don’t want to go to the cross and be separated from you as a sinner in hell.” But He said, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Surrendering to God’s will is the third step in getting your prayers answered. Most praying is self-centered. “Bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife, us 4 and no more.” Until you get beyond this, you cannot expect to see your prayers answered – James 4:3.
- Focus on Where God is. He is “in heaven.” This means far more than the “Man Upstairs.” He sits upon the throne of the universe, above all, over all, totally in charge, not discouraged, not confused. Illus: King Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah was disturbed over the fate of the nation, until he went to the temple and “saw the Lord high and lifted up” on His throne in heaven, totally in charge of everything – Isaiah 6. Relating to God as totally sovereign, in charge of everything, including ourselves, is the second step in getting our prayers answered – Psalm 115:3; 103:19; Romans 11:36.
- Finally, when you know Who God is, Where God is, What God Wills and your surrender to it, you are then in position to Focus on your personal needs and not until then.
- “Daily Bread” – the basic necessities of life. Matthew 6:11. Note Matthew 6:33
- “Forgiveness” – Matthew 6:12,14,15.
- “Guidance” – Matthew 6:13a
- Protection from the Devil – Matthew 6:13b
- Praise – Matthew 6:13c
Challenge: Begin this week to Focus on three realities when you pray:
- God is my Father
- God is in charge of all things
- Surrender to God’s will is the key to answered prayers.
“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance but laying hold upon God’s highest willingness”