"Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Many of us as children have prayed that prayer. We prayed it because our parents had recited it with us at bedtime so it became somewhat of a ritual. We did it because it pleased our parents; because we were told to or because a Sunday School teacher had taught us how to... pray the prayer. Even though we were too young to know about salvation, we did believe there was a God who would answer our prayers. Did God hear our prayer? I believe He did. We were innocent enough at that time that our prayers weren't hindered.
Do you wonder why there are times your prayers are unanswered? Have you ever thought that perhaps God doesn't answer our prayers for a reason? Oh, He hears them alright but too many times when we pray our hearts aren't right and that hinders our prayers.
"For I cried to him for help with praises ready on my tongue. He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins. But, he listened! He heard my prayer! He paid attention to it!" Psalm 66:17-19
Everyday I see prayer requests on Facebook. Many of those requests are from friends and I promise to pray for them. And, I do pray.........often, I pray many times. Then, I wonder if God heard my prayer for this person. I would hate to think that God heard my prayer, but because of unforgiveness in my heart toward other people, He didn't answer my prayer.
"and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us." Matthew 6:12 TLB
I like the story that John Lavender tells in his book "Why Prayers are Unanswered". The story is about Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
When Peale was a boy, he found a big, black cigar, slipped into an alley, and lit up. It didn't taste good, but it made him feel very grown up....until he saw his father coming. Quickly, he put the cigar behind his back and tried to be casual. Desperate to divert his father's attention, Norman pointed to a billboard advertising the circus. " Can I go, Dad? Please, can I go when it comes to town?" His father's reply taught Norman a lesson he never forgot. "Son", he answered quietly, but firmly, "never make a petition while at the same time trying to hide smoldering disobedience."
Is there a smoldering disobedience in your heart that would hinder the answer from God? There are too many people in need of our prayers today to allow sin and unforgiveness to hinder our much needed prayers.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Many of us as children have prayed that prayer. We prayed it because our parents had recited it with us at bedtime so it became somewhat of a ritual. We did it because it pleased our parents; because we were told to or because a Sunday School teacher had taught us how to... pray the prayer. Even though we were too young to know about salvation, we did believe there was a God who would answer our prayers. Did God hear our prayer? I believe He did. We were innocent enough at that time that our prayers weren't hindered.
Do you wonder why there are times your prayers are unanswered? Have you ever thought that perhaps God doesn't answer our prayers for a reason? Oh, He hears them alright but too many times when we pray our hearts aren't right and that hinders our prayers.
"For I cried to him for help with praises ready on my tongue. He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins. But, he listened! He heard my prayer! He paid attention to it!" Psalm 66:17-19
Everyday I see prayer requests on Facebook. Many of those requests are from friends and I promise to pray for them. And, I do pray.........often, I pray many times. Then, I wonder if God heard my prayer for this person. I would hate to think that God heard my prayer, but because of unforgiveness in my heart toward other people, He didn't answer my prayer.
"and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us." Matthew 6:12 TLB
I like the story that John Lavender tells in his book "Why Prayers are Unanswered". The story is about Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
When Peale was a boy, he found a big, black cigar, slipped into an alley, and lit up. It didn't taste good, but it made him feel very grown up....until he saw his father coming. Quickly, he put the cigar behind his back and tried to be casual. Desperate to divert his father's attention, Norman pointed to a billboard advertising the circus. " Can I go, Dad? Please, can I go when it comes to town?" His father's reply taught Norman a lesson he never forgot. "Son", he answered quietly, but firmly, "never make a petition while at the same time trying to hide smoldering disobedience."
Is there a smoldering disobedience in your heart that would hinder the answer from God? There are too many people in need of our prayers today to allow sin and unforgiveness to hinder our much needed prayers.
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