When there is no Answer

  Jupiter next to the moon Christmas night. Dec 25th 2012

Psalm 22:1-3 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”

What does verse 3 say? God is enthroned on the praises of Israel. When there is no answer worship. When we worship God rules.

What would stop the answer?
There could be sin Psalm 66:18 When we pray there is need to repent of all know sin. Part of the Lord's prayer Matt. 6:12 is to ask forgiveness for our sins. Without repentance there is a heart of rebellion against God. This rebellion will keep our prayers from being answered. Now also our enemy is not ignorant of our human frailties. He will put conviction in our heart after we have confessed our sins. Remember that all our past, all our sin, all our life is now under the blood of Jesus. We don't come to God with our own righteousness. We come to God on the basis of the righteousness given to us by Jesus. Philippians 3:9,10

Another reason why there would be unanswered prayer is unbelief. Matt 17:20. So to remedy the lack of faith is to spend time with God and hear from Him. Rom 10:17

Many times we have faith and we have stayed prayed up and are not in rebellion against God but still there is no answer. What do we do then?

Worship God. He is enthroned on our praise. Use worship as a statement of faith and trust in God. Use worship to turn from doubt to faith. Use Worship to turn from self to service.

Worship will soften our heart. In 2 Kings 3:15 Elisha had a musician come and play, this allowed the Spirit of God to move within him. If you are struggling with repentance, turn to worship and the Holy Spirit will soften your heart.

Worship will soften our heart to believe. It seems to be why the Sunday morning church service has worship before the preaching of the Bible. Worship will prepare people to receive the teaching.

Psalm 22:4,5
“In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.”

Record of past answers gives confidence for current prayer. Our fathers trusted  and identified with past greats. Their faith proved valid. Use this encouragement for confidence God will do it for you.

The Holy Spirit put part of this song in my heart this morning.

It Is No Secret
It is no secret what God can do
What He's done for others, He'll do for you
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do

For all the lyrics of the song go to here:
http://mariecs.com/religious_nosecret.htm

God is not a respecter of people. We can trust Him. Acts 10:34

Isaiah 50:10
“Who is among you that fears the Lord,
That obeys the voice of His servant,
That walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”

Here is a verse dealing with people that don't have the answer yet. What are they to do? First fear God and obey His teachings. Then trust in God to meet your need and rely on Him.

Ps 124:8
“Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.”

Proverbs 4:18
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”