You Can Get Your Prayers Answered

"Ask and ye shall receive."—John 16:24

"Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."—John 15:7

James, the brother of our Lord, said, "Ye have not, because ye ask not" (James 4:2). God has much more for all of us; what a shame we don't take advantage of the privilege we have of asking!

Prayer is not complicated. Any believer can talk to God and get results. There is no magic formula, no secret code. The Bible simply says "Ask" but it has a dual meaning. It means to ask one time; it also means to keep on asking. We are to ask and ask, and we will keep on receiving and receiving.

Dr. R.A. Torrey stated, "Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God."

If that be true, all we need do is determine whether what we ask is in the will of God. If it is, then we can have it. George Mueller, who saw thousands of answers to his prayers, explained how he did it:

1. One must come to complete dependence on the merits of Christ as the only claim of blessing.
2. One must separate himself from any known sin.
3. One must have faith in God's Word.
4. One must ask in accordance with God's will.
5. There must be an importunity or continuous asking and supplication until the answer comes.

These great men were not God's pets with some "in" that the rest of us do not have, for Peter by divine inspiration, said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." (Acts 10:34).

Are You Willing to do What's Right? #Questionable Things

We often receive letters from honest, sincere Christians wanting to know if a certain thing is right or wrong. Sometimes, there is no verse in the Bible that gives a clear answer to these questions, but we must remember two things regarding the Bible.

1. The Bible was written for all people of all ages. Therefore, everything could not be spelled out in detail. For instance, if there was a verse in the Bible that states, "Thou shalt not smoke Camel (cigarettes)," those old rabbis would have had a difficult time interpreting the passage.

2. The Bible is a condensed Book. John 21:25 states "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." So, had everything Jesus did been written in books, no one would ever find time to read them all.

The Bible is not a revelation of what God knows, but a revelation of what God wants men to know. Since the Bible does not give detailed answers to every question the believer will ever face, then what does he do regarding things not spelled out in the Scriptures?  While the Bible does not give all the specific details regarding what a Christian should and should not do, it does give guidelines by which every honest Christian can make the right decision regarding questionable things. In this series, we will share eleven guidelines that will help the believer in deciding whether a thing is right or wrong.

We are the servants and God is the Master. It's not the servant's duty to guess what the Master wants; it's only his duty to obey once the Master makes His will clear. When the believer doesn't know whether a certain matter is right or wrong, he should decide firmly and clearly that he will do God's will even if it goes against his wishes.

We must have the attitude, Lord, I don't know whether this is right or wrong; but if You will let me know for sure, I will do right regardless of what others say or what my preferences are.

The person who wants God's very best for his life and will do what is right can know God's will regarding questionable things. If you're not willing to do the right thing once you know it, then the rest of the guidelines to follow will be useless.

To Walk in His Will is Best

As I stood in the morn at the foot of the hill, 

With my spirit forlorn, unresigned to His will–

"Oh, dear Lord," I did cry, "I'm so weary today,

And the hill is so high—is there no other way?"

Then my Shepherd replied, "Though the pathway be steep, 

I'll be close by your side, and your feet I will keep.

I'll be holding your hand, and your strength I'll supply.

Till at even you stand on the hilltop so high."

So together we went, with His hand upon mine,

And I found sweet content in His presence divine.

Then my pathway seemed bright as we traveled along,

For my spirit grew light, and my heart filled with song.

At the close of the day on the summit I stood, 

Looking down at the way where my Sheperd so good

Had been leading me on; and it seemed not so steep

As it had at the dawn, nor the valley so deep;

For He leveled the road, step by step, as He led; 

And where dangers abode, He was always ahead.

So I learned on the hill, as I stood at the crest,

That to walk in His will is the way that is best.

—unknown