September 10, 2007 When God Says No, Keep Asking “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8 (NKJV) Devotion: Many times we pray and don’t get the answers we want in the time we think it should have been answered. Have you given up on God? Don’t! Let’s look at what God says about praying. Are you willing to surrender your will for God’s will at all cost? That means you give in to your own idea of how things should be and trust God for how He will answer. What does God’s Word say about the issue you are praying about? God’s Word is living and powerful and discerns our hearts and motives. While reading it and looking for God’s answer to your prayer, you will know if your prayer is according to God’s will. Also, ask the Holy Spirit to give you His supernatural leading as to how to pray for your need. He will do that for us - He desperately wants us to ask that of Him. If you have done these things and your heart is right before God, let the pleading begin! There is a Canaanite woman in the Bible who wouldn’t take the answer “no” from Jesus. She came to Him and asked that her daughter be freed of demon possession. He didn’t answer her. Many would have left him at that point. She didn’t leave, however. Instead she worshipped Him and pleaded again, “Lord, help me!” He again discouraged her. His disciples wanted to send her away, but she did not give up! She knew with all her heart that Jesus could do anything. Finally Jesus said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed that very hour. God wants to answer your prayer. Do you have faith like the Canaanite woman? Go before the throne of God with a holy boldness and do not be afraid to trust Him. He loves to give good gifts to those who ask. Just trust His timing, for it is always perfect. He may answer you as you want today, or it may take years for you to see the fruit of your begging. Keep on asking and keep on knocking and you will receive your answer. When God appears to say “no,” He isn’t always meaning “no.” Will you be like Jacob and wrestle with God in prayer for your blessing? Jacob wouldn’t let God go unless God blessed him. He preferred that his bones be broken in the fight than to not get his answer to prayer. Jacob received his blessing because he was fervent and not wavering in his faith and pursuit of God. Application Steps: You need to believe that God will answer your prayer. Faith is required for answered prayer. Matthew 9:29 If you lack faith ask God to help your unbelief like the father in Mark 9:23-24. The father said, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus did answer the man’s prayer. He just needed to ask. Reflections: Have you fasted with your praying? Acts 10:30 Have you prayed with two or more people? Matthew 18:19,20 Power Verses: Matthew 15:22-28, “And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And his disciples came and urged Him saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel .’ Then she came and worshipped Him, saying ‘Lord, help me!’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (NKJV) James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your own pleasures. “(NKJV) | 
