Allowing God to Answer Prayer (Jan 24)

Have you ever had an unanswered prayer even though it seemed like you prayed diligently for a long time? Unanswered prayer might seem to indicate to some that God is either able to do it, but not willing, or willing to do it, but not able. This perception is wrong. God is both able and willing to answer prayer. Sometimes an unanswered prayer is restrained because of our lack of faith.

Read the selection from the devotional, “At His Feet,” for January 23, entitled, “Willing and Able.”

“Birds lack faith. They fly away when I enter the orchard, though I mean them no ill. Even so do we lack faith in God.” - Martin Luther

Mark 9:23-24

23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Mark 4:37-41

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Matthew 17:18-21

18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Mark 11:24

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.