Unanswered Prayer

Ps 66:18
“If I regard wickedness in my heart,
The Lord will not hear; “

We can not on the one hand have sin in as a purpose and on the other hand ask God and expect Him to answer. We are followers of Christ. We are following what Jesus taught. If on the other hand we decide to reject what He taught how can we at that point expect God to honor our request?

The basis of Christian walk is humble belief in what God has given.

1 John 3:20-22
20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

An honest heart before God and reading the Bible with an open heart will show us if we are walking in the light of God or not.

Isa 59:2
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. “

Sin separates us from God. In the Lord's prayer we ask forgiveness for our sin and are forgiven because of the promise of 1 John 1:9. But if we do not repent of our sin then there is a separation and our sins are not forgiven. The blood will wash away our sins and as we ask forgiveness we are cleansed by the blood.
The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:9)

Ezekiel 14:3
"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity Should I be consulted by them at all?”

What is an idol? Something I worship instead of God. Western world worships personal peace and affluence. I want to give up my personal peace to reach out to others.

Praise God When Prayers Unanswered

Did you know that unanswered prayer is a call for praise? When we have prayed and there is no answer its time to get out the guitar. Its time to open up the hymn book and give God praise.

That's what the Bible says. Psalm 22:2,3 "O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel."

That's right, when no answer comes start praising. God is enthroned on our praise. He rules when we praise. Praise is not only celebration but is also creates a highway of holiness.

God looks with favor on those who have faith. Faith is only possible when there is need. When there is unanswered prayer we have a need to praise God. This praise maintains our hope, which gives faith substance.