I have found that getting answers to my prayers to be one of the most confusing things in my Christian life. I know that there are three responses to any prayer to God. Sometimes the answer is “No”. Sometimes it is a “Yes”. Sometimes it is a “Yes, but not now”. And there are various reasons why God would say “No”, “Yes” or “Yes, but not now” which I will not get into.
However, it is really confusing when you find yourself in a situation where you pray about the same things as another Christian, and you are more devoted than them and their prayers get answered faster than yours.
I have analyzed some of my answered prayers and had discussions with others and they are three things that stood out about the prayers that got answered really quickly.
Prayers with many beneficiaries
I have noticed that the more people there are that benefit from God answering my prayer, the faster it normally gets answered. So if I ask God for something that only benefits me or only my family, it takes longer than if it also benefits others outside of my family circle.
For example, if you promise God that if you get a job, you will give a certain amount to an orphanage every month, the prayer of getting a job is most likely to be answered faster unlike if the income will only benefit you (especially if you are already getting your needs supplied by family members). However, you will have to act upon your promise and never fail in keeping it.
Prayer request is a need
There are few occasions in my life where God has answered a prayer for what I did not need, but only wanted. The bible promises the God shall supply what we need (Philippians 4:19). For example, if you want a job, but you already have your needs already supplied because you have family members supporting you, it might take longer for your request for a job to materialize since it not an immediate need.
Praying for others (Intercessory Prayer)
I was once in a bible study and we were discussing prayer. One of the men who attended said that he had been praying for a long time for his wayward children to change and had not seen any results until one of the church members asked him to pray for her wayward children. He decided to pray for this lady’s children to change. He said that when he started doing this, he started seeing that his own children were changing and their behavior was not the same as it was before and his prayer got answered.
I have also noticed like this man, that when I pray for others and ask God to help those who have the same problems as me, my prayers get answered at a faster rate, then when I am only praying for myself. When God sees you behaving in a selfless way and sees that you desire others to change or overcome their problems or also obtain something you desire, God acts faster in answering your prayers.
Disclaimer
God, off course cannot be manipulated and you cannot twist His arm and you cannot make Him do anything.
You could pray a prayer that benefits more than 20 people and God can still say “No”. He sees the overall picture. What you are asking could be what is good, but He knows of something better.
However, in general, the trend that I have seen is that my prayers where I only considered myself got answered after months, or even after years. And my selfless prayers or where others were considered got answered sooner.
However, I have also noticed that there are certain prayers that do not take a long time to be answered and are sometimes answered immediately even if I am the only one that benefits from them. Like prayer for God’s protection, prayer for discernment and prayer for wisdom.
What things have you noticed that result in prayers being answered faster than usual? Do you have similar experiences as me?
However, it is really confusing when you find yourself in a situation where you pray about the same things as another Christian, and you are more devoted than them and their prayers get answered faster than yours.
I have analyzed some of my answered prayers and had discussions with others and they are three things that stood out about the prayers that got answered really quickly.
Prayers with many beneficiaries
I have noticed that the more people there are that benefit from God answering my prayer, the faster it normally gets answered. So if I ask God for something that only benefits me or only my family, it takes longer than if it also benefits others outside of my family circle.
For example, if you promise God that if you get a job, you will give a certain amount to an orphanage every month, the prayer of getting a job is most likely to be answered faster unlike if the income will only benefit you (especially if you are already getting your needs supplied by family members). However, you will have to act upon your promise and never fail in keeping it.
Prayer request is a need
There are few occasions in my life where God has answered a prayer for what I did not need, but only wanted. The bible promises the God shall supply what we need (Philippians 4:19). For example, if you want a job, but you already have your needs already supplied because you have family members supporting you, it might take longer for your request for a job to materialize since it not an immediate need.
Praying for others (Intercessory Prayer)
I was once in a bible study and we were discussing prayer. One of the men who attended said that he had been praying for a long time for his wayward children to change and had not seen any results until one of the church members asked him to pray for her wayward children. He decided to pray for this lady’s children to change. He said that when he started doing this, he started seeing that his own children were changing and their behavior was not the same as it was before and his prayer got answered.
I have also noticed like this man, that when I pray for others and ask God to help those who have the same problems as me, my prayers get answered at a faster rate, then when I am only praying for myself. When God sees you behaving in a selfless way and sees that you desire others to change or overcome their problems or also obtain something you desire, God acts faster in answering your prayers.
Disclaimer
God, off course cannot be manipulated and you cannot twist His arm and you cannot make Him do anything.
You could pray a prayer that benefits more than 20 people and God can still say “No”. He sees the overall picture. What you are asking could be what is good, but He knows of something better.
However, in general, the trend that I have seen is that my prayers where I only considered myself got answered after months, or even after years. And my selfless prayers or where others were considered got answered sooner.
However, I have also noticed that there are certain prayers that do not take a long time to be answered and are sometimes answered immediately even if I am the only one that benefits from them. Like prayer for God’s protection, prayer for discernment and prayer for wisdom.
What things have you noticed that result in prayers being answered faster than usual? Do you have similar experiences as me?
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