Do this when you think God is telling you “No.”
Have you heard the statement: “God always answers prayers. Sometimes He says “Yes” and sometimes He says ‘No.’”
Is that true?
What does God mean by a promise? Is it a “possibility” or does He stand by His Word like we expect people to do?
When He promises one of the 7,487 promises He made to humanity, does He intend to fulfil it?
Here are five things to check before you decide that God is telling you “No” about something you ask Him:
Have you checked your own HEART?”
Our heart may be harboring something that prevents God from answering our prayer.
Jesus said that if your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and first be reconciled to your brother.
Peter said that if I don’t honor my wife, “my prayers will be hindered.”
Check your heart to see if you are holding a grudge or have given someone cause to be offended by you. Resolve it, and the answer to prayer will come.
2. Do you have a PROMISE that has given you full assurance of faith?
Hundreds of cans of food will not feed you. You have to open the pantry, take down a can, open it, and put it in a pot on the stove.
You must find a promise in the Bible (your “pantry”). Open it, feed on it, meditate on it, and let it “simmer” in your heart.
That promise will suddenly come alive to you! Your heart will feel an assurance, a persuasion, a conviction that the promise has already been fulfilled.
3. Use your MOUTH to echo that promise back to God.
God told Joshua to “let not these words depart out of your MOUTH.”
When God promises something, the more you echo it back to Him, the stronger your belief is in that promise.
Boldly speak the promise. Remind God of that promise. Quote it daily with a “Thank you, Lord, that…” in front of the promise.
Your mouth is critical in getting your answer from God.
4. Be PATIENT and praise God even when you don’t see anything change
Patience is tough for me.
When someone is looking at their phone through the first ten seconds of a green light, I struggle to keep my hand off the horn!
What do you do when you have prayed and nothing has happened for a long time? You start to “praise.”
Praise strengthens patience.
Every day, alone with God, praise Him for the answer. Even when you don’t see ANYTHING CHANGING, praise Him.
5. Do spiritual WARFARE against the enemy.
It may not be God saying “No,” but rather the devil saying “No” to you. He’s sitting on your answer.
Rebuke him by calling out the specific issue. You have authority. Use it!
Cleanse your heart, get a promise, speak it out, praise when you don’t see anything, and do warfare.
God’s not saying “No,” He’s teaching you how to stand on His promise until His will comes to pass!