A FIVE-FOLD PLAN
A FIVE-FOLD PLAN
God said, “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11: 24). He also said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1: 5-8). Again, He said, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37: 4). And He said, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4: 1-3). And then He said, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5: 14-15).
There is a recurring theme in all of the aforementioned scriptures concerning prayer. That is, God wants to answer our prayers. There is also a recurring theme on the behalf of those wanting to receive. That is, we have something to do with it. Question: Are your prayers being answered? To be as clear as we can, prayer is a wonderful privilege for the faithful child of God. God’s children have access to their heavenly Father. Listen to Peter: “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3: 10-12). James says, “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5: 16). When I read these scriptures, it is overwhelming clear that answer to prayer is not a matter of God’s willingness to grant our requests; it is our willingness to comply with stipulated conditions. God is a most generous giver. His hand is not reluctant. He enjoys bestowing our requests. What we have failed to understand is that our character must be in order to receive God’s blessings! Does your character match your requests? Can God trust you to give you what you are asking for? Failure to comprehend this point is why so many Christians have their prayers unanswered. Please reread the scriptures above and ask yourself if you are aligned with the positives and negatives. Are you in a scriptural condition in conduct and in faith to receive what God so graciously wants to bestow?
The following is a five-fold list I have compiled (though not exhaustive) for God answering our prayers. Please take note and consider in the light of your own life.
- Humbly: When we approach our Father, do we come with a child-like disposition? We must humble ourselves even as a child. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18: 3). Jesus is referencing child-likeness and not childishness. James informs us to: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4: 10). So, what is humility? It is a deep abasement of ourselves. It is a recognition of our littleness before God. It is the antithesis of a person of arrogancy.
- Reverently: When God told Moses to take off his shoes at the burning bush, God wanted in very clear in the mind of Moses that he was in the very presence of God! When we pray, we are not just talking to anyone; we are talking to the Creator of all things! This lets me know that this conversation is unlike any other! God is not my home-boy! He is not even some high ranking official. He is God and we need to approach Him as God! When we bow the knee, we must be conscious that our “shoes” must be removed in His presence! Metaphorically, it means we are to strip ourselves of any worldly and carnal-like disposition. Listen to the Hebrew writer, “Therefore…let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12: 28-29).
- Boldly: As a child of God, God has given me certain rights when I approach Him. He wants me to understand that we are in a very unique relationship. This relationship has been brought about by the death of His precious Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, God doesn’t want us to come to Him unsure or afraid. We are not to be timid in our approach. He wants us to come in confidence—not because of who we are, but because of who He is! He says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4: 16).
- Dependently: In the days of king Hezekiah, God’s people were threatened by the king of Assyria to give up and give in to his demands. The Rabshakeh boasted, “…On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust…” (2 Kings 18: 19-20). That is the question on the floor! In whom do you now trust? What or who are you depending on? When I go to God in prayer, I do not prayer to God on bended knee only to arise on standing feet depending on man! We must be careful who we are depending on! If God so chooses to use whatever means, then that is His business. But my trust is in Him and Him alone! And my dependency comes from God and only God! By the way, if you don’t know, read 2 Kings 19: 32-35 and see the final results of a people who trusted in their God! “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62: 1-2).
- Expectantly: This somewhat overlaps the last point but needs further clarification. After I pray, I look! My expectation is not how but when. And it is not now but when God sees fit in His timely will. However, my faith prompts me to look and expect answers to my prayers! I’m reminded when the church was praying for Peter in Acts chapter 12. While they were praying, Peter was knocking on the door! So much the more that they didn’t even believe it was Peter at the door! They were praying but they were not expecting! In God’s gracious care for Peter, he answered their prayers! Do we have expectation when we pray? Are we looking for God to answer our prayers! I submit that when we look for answered prayer, God will see to the bestowing because of our faith in Him! The Psalmist wrote, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121: 1-2).
So we have: Humbly, Reverently, Boldly, Dependently, and Expectantly. My brethren, I encourage you to make your lives right with God! I encourage you get in agreement with God! And I encourage you to pray in the will of God and begin to implement this five-fold plan, or one of your own, consistent with scripture, and prepare yourself when the prayers go up, blessings will come down!
~Stacey Mobley
