Unanswered Prayer (15.07.12)

Text: Romans 11:33-36 (NLT)

"Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

For who can know the Lord's thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?
And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen!"

Isaiah 55:8-8 (NIV)
The Struggle with Unanswered Prayer
- No extol virtues of Prayer
- We testify to the blessings of answered prayers
- The 'silence' of unanswered prayer
- The guilt, the disappointment, even anger and blame

Possible reasons for...
- By rote, ritualistic, not desperate enough
- Besetting / unconfessed sin
- Grudge, bitterness unforgiveness
- Selfish, self-centered, Pharisee
- Christians vs Christians
- Protection against pride
- Rejecting God's Sovereignty

"It is not that our prayers are not answered, it is that we do not accept the answer!"

Biblical Examples
- The Struggles of Job
- The Apostle Paul's 'thorn in the flesh'
"My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Jesus Christ (Luke 22:42)
"Father, is you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Prayer Changes Me!
- To be patient
- To be persistent
- To be prayerfully genuine and sincere
- To be practically obedient
- To peacefully accept God's answer

The true heart of prayer is not asking God to do things for us or change the world for us. But to change US that we may change the world. 

Prayer of the Confederate Soldier
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among all men most richly blessed.