Four Ways God Answers Persistent Prayer - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - September 19, 2021
2021Sep 19
Four Ways God Answers Persistent Prayer By Rick Warren
"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers." Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
There is no such thing as unanswered prayer. God may not always answer the way you like, but he always answers prayer in one of four ways:
When your request is not right, God says, “No.”
God is not going to give you something that's harmful for you. He only gives you his best! He sometimes says “no” because your request does not match his best for you.
When you’re not right, God says, “Grow.”
Maybe God wants to give you something—maybe even a blessing so big you can’t imagine it—but you’re not ready for the responsibility. It could even cause stress in your life if he gave it to you now. Don’t stop praying! Keep reading God’s Word and making Christ your first pursuit.
When the timing's not right, God says, “Slow.”
Habakkuk 2:3 says, "The time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" (TLB)It's coming, but it's not here yet. God wants to take it slow, until you're ready to handle it. Growth often needs to be paced. And it always takes time.
When your request and the timing and your character are all lined up, God says, “Go.”
Ephesians 6:18 says, "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers" (NLT). You don’t pray persistently because you’re trying to convince God. You pray persistently so that you’re ready when God says, “Go.”
Always believe that God is going to answer your prayer. It might not always be the answer you want or expect, but it will always be for your good and for God’s glory.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Build a Firm Foundation of Prayer in the Next Generation!
“Perhaps the most important role you can play in the life of a child is teaching them to trust God through prayer. It’s the key to living with hope.” —Pastor Rick
That’s why it’s so important to strengthen the hope of kids by introducing them to Jesus’ model for prayer at an early age. And we’re excited to help you do that with Pastor Rick’s children’s book, The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness.
Filled with thoughtful insights from Pastor Rick as well as stunning illustrations from award-winning artist, Richard Jesse Watson, this book brings the poetic scripture from the King James Version alive for readers young and old. It’s sure to become a meaningful bedtime ritual, a treasured memory, and by God’s grace, a legacy that bears good fruit for generations to come.
This book is a perfect way to share the beauty and richness of The Lord’s Prayer with the children the Lord has placed in your life. And it’s our thanks for your gift below to help Daily Hope take the Good News to more people everywhere. So please request a copy for yourself or a friend today, and thanks for your generosity!
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