“Keep on asking,
and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep
on knocking,
and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7 NLT
~~~~~
Quite
some time ago we had problems with our email. Some people mentioned that our FOR
YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT
mailing ended in their Spam box. So I sent out the “Could You Do Us a Favor”
message requesting you to let us know whether you had a problem with the
reception of our weekly mailing.
Out
of 350+ mailings we had 80 some replies. 90% had no problem -10% found our
weekly mailing in their Deleted or Spam box. I finally called the technical
support line - which I should have done in the first place. After about two and
a half hours on the phone, most of my email problems were resolved.
There is a
spiritual lesson here!! Sometimes our prayers don’t go beyond the ceiling -
they go to the “Outbox” and no further. Something is blocking them from
reaching their intended destination. God’s Word is our technical support line
which points out the spiritual “bugs” which hinder our prayers from getting through
to him. Listed below are three.
James
tells us that our prayers at times are ineffective because something is
blocking them. He says, ”When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do
not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the
sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to
receive anything from the Lord.”
Like
little children we at times pray for things that are not good for us, and fortunately
those prayers don’t get beyond the “Outbox.” In his 1st epistle John tells us
when we ask according to God’s will, God ”hears us
whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us
when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” In other words if we ask for things which don't please him, he will not grant our request.
Peter
in his 1st epistle says, “You husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife
with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but
she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should
so your prayers will not be hindered.”
Lord,
help us to be aware of, and “delete” the things which keep our prayers from
getting BEYOND THE “OUTBOX”!
4 comments:
Thanks, Iver. Good encouragement.
Great illustration of hindrances to prayer.
Your advice and spiritual direction is always a blessing. Thank you Iver.
Bob Bollinger
Your advice and spiritual direction is always a blessing. Thank you Iver.
Bob Bollinger
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