God showed me something today, dealing with faith. When we ask for something, the answer or request is given immediately. This is proven from Mk 11/22-24, Lk 11/9-13, He 11, Ja 1/1-8. The answer is given immediately, because Christ knows what we need before we even ask! (cf Mt 6/5-7)
So, why do we not receive what we ask for sometimes?? This is a question I have struggled with for quite some time, and today, God just dropped the whole answer in my lap as it were. The answer is two-fold:
1. God tests our faith - God tests our faith in order to make us perfect. God is constantly in the process of making us more like him, and perfecting us (see the book of James and Hebrews). God tries the hearts (Pr 17/3). The heart literally means the "inner-most part of man". The heart is where God dwells in man. The heart is what determines our fruit (Mt 12/34). How do we stay strong when our inner-man is tested, in order for God to make us perfect? Through staying in the Word. Jesus said that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free (Jn 8/32). The context of this passage is speaking of sin. When we know the truth (the word of God), we are able to guard our thoughts, and not let any thought that is against scripture take a hold in our minds. What we think about and focus on most, will determine the state of our inner-man. Diligence is the key here, as is stated in Ps 1/1-3. We must DAILY be in the word and meditating on it constantly. When Christ was tempted in the wilderness by the enemy, his defense was the word of God, he combated lies with truth (it is written) - see Mt 4.
2. We must take possession of God's promise. God gives us what we ask for immediately, but it does not become ours until we take possession of it, by believing it is already ours. In fact, it is already ours, because God has given it to us, but in order to receive it, we must believe we have received it, and then we will see it. Belief precedes seeing. If you look closely at Mt 21/21-22, faith is the opposite of doubt, and faith must precede receiving of what we ask for. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, because they failed on this principle. God requires us to believe before we receive, and in fact, many times, things appear to be in direct opposition to the promises we've been given. Abraham & Sarah had to wait for Issac. The Israelites had to wait on God to enter the Promised Land; the Egyptians appeared to have overtaken them; they had to believe that God would fight for them against the giants that were currently in the land.
I realized from these revelations, that I was guilty of saying to myself, I must not be hearing God, because the promises I've been given are not coming to pass. And when I realized that God was showing me that this does not mean they are not from God, but rather that I needed to believe them regardless of what I saw, felt, experienced, or understood, I had this revelation that God is working in all of our lives. There are NO accidents (cf Pr 16/33). Whatever is now happening, is happening for a reason.
So friends, be encouraged! Whatever trials or tribulations you are currently enduring, know that God has allowed them to enter your life for a reason and a purpose, and he is working them for your good! (cf Ro 8/28). Press in to his word, read the Bible day & night. Memorize verses that are truth in regards to what you're currently dealing with. And choose to claim these verses as truth, regardless of what you see, feel, hear, experience, or understand.
For the one who walks in faith, nothing is impossible! (cf Mk 9/22-23)
So, why do we not receive what we ask for sometimes?? This is a question I have struggled with for quite some time, and today, God just dropped the whole answer in my lap as it were. The answer is two-fold:
1. God tests our faith - God tests our faith in order to make us perfect. God is constantly in the process of making us more like him, and perfecting us (see the book of James and Hebrews). God tries the hearts (Pr 17/3). The heart literally means the "inner-most part of man". The heart is where God dwells in man. The heart is what determines our fruit (Mt 12/34). How do we stay strong when our inner-man is tested, in order for God to make us perfect? Through staying in the Word. Jesus said that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free (Jn 8/32). The context of this passage is speaking of sin. When we know the truth (the word of God), we are able to guard our thoughts, and not let any thought that is against scripture take a hold in our minds. What we think about and focus on most, will determine the state of our inner-man. Diligence is the key here, as is stated in Ps 1/1-3. We must DAILY be in the word and meditating on it constantly. When Christ was tempted in the wilderness by the enemy, his defense was the word of God, he combated lies with truth (it is written) - see Mt 4.
2. We must take possession of God's promise. God gives us what we ask for immediately, but it does not become ours until we take possession of it, by believing it is already ours. In fact, it is already ours, because God has given it to us, but in order to receive it, we must believe we have received it, and then we will see it. Belief precedes seeing. If you look closely at Mt 21/21-22, faith is the opposite of doubt, and faith must precede receiving of what we ask for. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, because they failed on this principle. God requires us to believe before we receive, and in fact, many times, things appear to be in direct opposition to the promises we've been given. Abraham & Sarah had to wait for Issac. The Israelites had to wait on God to enter the Promised Land; the Egyptians appeared to have overtaken them; they had to believe that God would fight for them against the giants that were currently in the land.
I realized from these revelations, that I was guilty of saying to myself, I must not be hearing God, because the promises I've been given are not coming to pass. And when I realized that God was showing me that this does not mean they are not from God, but rather that I needed to believe them regardless of what I saw, felt, experienced, or understood, I had this revelation that God is working in all of our lives. There are NO accidents (cf Pr 16/33). Whatever is now happening, is happening for a reason.
So friends, be encouraged! Whatever trials or tribulations you are currently enduring, know that God has allowed them to enter your life for a reason and a purpose, and he is working them for your good! (cf Ro 8/28). Press in to his word, read the Bible day & night. Memorize verses that are truth in regards to what you're currently dealing with. And choose to claim these verses as truth, regardless of what you see, feel, hear, experience, or understand.
For the one who walks in faith, nothing is impossible! (cf Mk 9/22-23)