Disciple making tips. By Geoffrey Harris What do you do when your prayers are not answered? Apply the Faith Principle. * A friend of mine had been praying for a life partner for a long time. This need was consuming their attention and stealing their emotional energy. They asked for my advice. Here was my response: I am continuing to pray in faith for God to send you a life partner and here is a principle that will help you. I ask you to pray in faith by thanking God for His Sovereignty and tell him you trust His provision in this matter. Can you trust Him? Will you trust Him? If your answer is “yes”, each time you think about your need, thank Almighty God as an expression of your faith, that he will meet this need in His way and perfect time. The Faith Principle Scripture says, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 KJV Your expression of faith is what pleases God. Scripture says; “Without faith it is impossible to please God.“ Hebrews 11:6 Think about your response to what seems like unanswered prayer this way. Any doubt, worry and frustration about His provision of a partner for you communicates to God you do not trust him. Your unbelief breaks your fellowship, unplugs you from His power, and may delay His answer to your prayers. A common response to circumstances over which we have no control, is to take matters into our own hands by over thinking them, trying to come up with our own plan, and managing and controlling matters in the flesh. Worry and frustration is a normal response to unanswered prayer but an indication you are placing your faith in the wrong object, i.e., your circumstances, other people, your plans, etc., rather than God's will. Thanking him, each time you feel worried and frustrated, is an expression of your faith in him and His will, as the right object of your faith. Thanking God, in what feels like negative circumstances, is the highest expression of faith. The temptation to rely on your emotions is not wrong unless you succumb to them. Faith is not a feeling. Faith is not a feeling. It is a choice to trust in the integrity of God and his word. As you demonstrate your faith, regardless of your feelings, by doing the right thing, He will honor your trust with the valid fruit of the Spirit, “ Peace, “ in your circumstance. Thanking Him that He will meet your need, in His time, communicates your “faith” in and to Him. Remember, “That which is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23 I call this the “faith principle.” Scripture also says, “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,” Colossians 2:6 NASB How did you receive Him? Through faith. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”Ephesians 2:8 NIV As you replace your struggle with the gift of faith God has given, you will find peace and comfort and rest, while you wait, expectantly, for His perfect will. It makes a lot more sense to trust in the plan of the infinite, Almighty God of the Universe, than in our little, finite human plans. Surrender to God‘s will and plan for your life, whatever it may be, rest in His peace and He will exceed your expectations. This is what to do when your prayers are not answered. Remember the Faith Principle 1. The just shall live by faith... 2. Without faith it is impossible to please him... 3. That which is not of faith is sin... 4. Give thanks in all things... “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV * I learned The Faith Principle from Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ International. (Cru) |
Geoffrey HarrisHe is an International Coach to Pastor's and Christian Leaders. He enjoy's coaching relationships across eleven time zones and in twenty three countries. His passion is to help change the world for good, one person at a time through personal and digital discipleship. Archives
December 2020
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