God is very generous you know. He wants you and me to receive answers to prayers and have the things we desire. However, there are conditions that must be met first before, trying to get anything. Imagine expecting to lose weight and not exercising? that’s not practical, right? well God is very very practical. He does not mind you vying to get anything from Him, although that must not be the ultimate goal of a relationship with Him, He is still okay with you asking Him for things, because he actually wants to release what he has made available for you to enjoy.
Be resolute about what your want
To receive answers to prayers one needs to be resolute about what they want. I have realized that one thing that makes a man not get anything from God is, double-mindedness. there were times I never received anything from God because I was not yet decided. And the doors closed upright in my face. A door was opened for a period of time and then shut, because I delayed. That was my double-mindedness that made the opportunity slip away. However, when you decide to make up your mind about something and go for it, that is when you can change anything and receive anything from God.
You cant change anything in your life until you make a decision. You can make a firm decision and stick with it. For example, most sin goes away with firm decision-making. It could be a decision to follow God’s will by studying His word for yourself about that sin and making the changes necessary to overcome it. Likewise, inorder to receive answers to prayers, you need to comes by make firm decisions and apply the same method only for a different result.
When you have had enough and are willing to turn away from something bad or towards something better, a decision starts and change follows. Some have said ‘they would quit drinking or smoking this year, but never did. At least they had the desire, however, it was a lack of firm decision-making that cut the process short. It simply means they did not mean it or did not know how to. They never trusted that God would do it. Yet repentance is a complete turnaround from something or somewhere you have been heading that wasn’t right for you.
Someone said they would start a business this year, but nothing happened. It was probably because they had plan B in mind. To mean they were not decided and for such instances when the going gets tough, they will bend or fold to the pressure. There is no room for plan B when you have decided on plan A. You can have the same goal just but with a different approach, maybe that. but not a completely different plan that changes everything completely.
The bible says anyone that is undecided (double-minded) cannot get anything from God. I mean “Anything?”, that means the one who is decided will “get anything” from God.
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:5-8 NIV
This is serious! FIRST God, says you must ask. SECONDLY, He says, we must not doubt. THIRDLY, we will receive anything when we meet these conditions.
In another version of this same verse, it says. “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 KJV Man there is plural to mean anybody.
In this verse, God was referring to wisdom, but this can apply to anything really. Faith does not bounce between two probabilities, it sticks with one. Be decided about what you want.
One person once asked me about the fate of a double-minded person. The answer is in this bible verse above, “Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” and their fate is instability.
Decide what you want today and stick with it. That way you can receive anything from God, and live a stable life.
Seek to glorify God
In your life, It is possible to receive anything from God. Anything you put your mind to receive from the Lord you can have. Some people actually don’t believe this for their personal lives, yet God Himself tells us from His word that we can receive anything from Him.
I’m glad you are reading this because it’s only a matter of time until you receive what you have always wanted. The word of God says;
“And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:12-13
It is easy for you to receive anything from God. However, it is easy for you not to receive anything from God as well.
If it hasn’t happened yet, either one of two or three conditions hasn’t been met. The secret to receiving anything from God is not in the phrase “asking anything” as John 14:13 states, BUT IT IS HOW YOU ASK AND WHY YOU ASK.
God answers prayers not because they are prayers, and because one has ticked the prayer register, but because you understood why you prayed, and what authority or jurisdiction you have to receive answers to what you have prayed about.
The FIRST CONDITION for receiving anything from God is BELIEVING.
In the verse before John 14:12-13, Verse 11 Jesus said; “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.”
He said ‘believe in Me and you will do the works that I do’, ‘Believe in Me and you will get what I get plus more.
Your problem could be solved only when you start believing it will.
The SECOND CONDITION for receiving anything from God is IN APPLYING THE FULL AUTHORITY OF HIS NAME.
“And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:12
This verse continued after verse 11. Jesus was saying, whatever (anything) you ask after believing, He will do because He is with the Father in heaven today and you have believed in Him. Your problem could be in not knowing Christ, or applying the full authority of His Name.
The THIRD CONDITION for receiving anything from God is in GLORIFYING THE FATHER.
You have to seek to Glorify the Father in heaven, otherwise, your prayer has missed it. This is where you need to share your testimony after the miracle takes place for example. Someway, somehow whatever you ask, believing, in his name, must eventually glorify God. It’s not for you but for God’s Glory.
The millions, the marriage, the child, the job, the miracle, the revelation, the open door, whatever (anything) it may be. That anything is for God’s glory.
So you could be missing one two or all three of these conditions, or you could be applying on and leaving out the others. Try them all together and see. For God wants to bless you with what you desire to have. That’s God’s perfect will, “that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Cor 2:12
God wants you to experience life to full, by believing in Jesus Christ, applying the full power of his name, and glorifying God the Father.
Without these 3 Key Ingredients, for your prayers, answers will come late and slow or never! With them, your prayers will produce results always. Be open to receiving by applying them.
You may think, “I have done this as you have shared!”, well, keep praying.
Remain persistent to the end
I want to go a little deep with you today. And show you something you’ve probably never seen about your life before. But first, let me share a brief testimony.
I’m a holder of a bachelor of commerce degree from Curtin University in Perth, Australia. I majored in finance. However, that degree was not easy to attain. In my journey to attaining it. I failed a lot, in fact, I failed one subject (course) every semester except my final semester where I excelled in all. I still finished and it was because I persisted. It was only then that I learned my lesson. Persistence over a good cause pays.
In receiving anything from God. You need to persist. You have got to pray again and again until the desired result. While doing so listening and allow Him to lead and guide you by His Spirit in you.
The bible says, “For the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly” Proverbs 20:27God loves to guide you from within, but He needs your attention to do so.
There’s another scripture I like from Jesus in the word of God which says, “whoever pulls the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God” Luke 9:62
This was talking also about prayer, for in the bible plowing or tilling the land is generally a reference to prayer. Jesus was saying for you to receive anything (to be fit for the kingdom of God ) you have to be persistent.
Had I looked back during my university life I would not have my degree today. I prayed and kept on with it and I got rewarded.
Therefore I say this to you. For you to receive anything from God persist at that. In part 1 shared tgat you need to be decided about what you want, Part 2 I shared that you need to Seek to Glorify His name. And now the final piece is that you need to;
Persistance in Prayer and Action.
For the word of God is replete with examples of man that persisted and prevailed. They Received what they earnestly prayed for and acted towards. Read this story of Elijah when He prayed for rain in the land in James 5:17-18 1 Kings 18:41-19:8.
It has a remarkable ending. And that of the persistent widow from, Luke 18:1-8. The widow received from God after much persistence. These two stories are a reflection of what persistence can achieve.
Before referencing Elijah in James 5:16 the word says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].” AMP
‘The heartfelt, persistent prayer, of a believer, can accomplish much, when God is involved, it is dynamic and Has tremendous results,
If you need HEALING find someone, confess to one another and pray and you’ll be healed. As you persist in prayer God gets involved and you can receive HEALING including anything from the Lord.
God rewards Persistence and the right Persistence Pays. Without persistence, you can never accomplish greatness in your life.
I shall share one of my achievements soon that came because of persistence. For now keep at it, for your reward is close by.
