"How to Receive an Answer from God"

We can't deny the fact that many of us pray to God everyday whether we're alone or with other people. Especially when we have a problem. We become more receptive to God. We'd pray about ourselves, our friends, family, problems... just about anything.

And, I have to be pretty honest that sometimes I feel like God doesn't want to answer some of my prayers... even the smallest prayer requests. But I just keep on praying anyway. ^^


Yesterday, I was able to listen to one of the podcasts of Rick Warren entitled, "How to receive an Answer from God" and I realized some stuff about prayer. 
*Rick Warren is a pastor from Saddleback Church, California (http://saddleback.com/). He also wrote the book, "Purpose Driven Life".*


(*MY NOTES ACCORDING TO THE PODCAST*)
He discussed about the 4 Attitudes we should have in order to Receive an Answer from God which are:


1) Be willing to let God answer according to His TIME.

- We must be willing to wait and be patient to God's answers. He will answer our prayers at the right time. God is the God of time after all.
- If we are mature enough, we will be able to wait because faith is patience.


The question here for us is, "How long are we willing to wait?"


- God often delays an answer to a prayer because he needs to prepare us.


Just imagine if an 8-year old boy would ask his dad if he can drive the car. The dad would of course say "Not yet". The boy would still need to be prepared and have that skill of driving before he can actually hit the road.


It's the same thing with us. God wants us to grow first in order for Him to approve of our prayer.


- God is never late. His timing is always PERFECT.


2) Be willing to let God answer in His own WAY.

- God's ways are always better and bigger.


"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."-Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

I kept a journal for my prayers and realized that it's a good thing that God didn't answer all my prayers before because if he did, my life would have been more chaotic.

- An example of this would be the Prodigal Son. He asked his father to give him his inheritance. In the end, it didn't do him any good.


I remember the movie, Bruce Almighty. He answered all the prayers and said "YES" to each one of them so they would be "happy", but it all turned out to be a disaster for everyone..

3) Be willing to let God answer in His own POWER.

- Sometimes, God answers when the situation is humanly impossible so He will get all the glory.

This is what people see as a miracle.

- When you pray for a certain situation, don't be surprised if it gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes God answers to the point of our hopelessness in order to get the glory out of it.

We realize our need of Him in ever situation in our lives. Without Him, WE ARE NOTHING.

4) Be willing to let God answer for His own PURPOSE.

- Why does God answer prayers? There are two reasons:

1) for our GROWTH, and 2) for His GLORY.

- An example would be Paul. According to Romans 1:7, 1:10, 1:15, Romans 15:20, and 15:24, Paul wanted to preach the Gospel in Rome.

"It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation." -Romans 15:20 (NIV)

- God answered Paul's prayer to go to Rome, but in Acts 28:16, it says that he became a prisoner in Rome.

- Sometimes, God denies our original request to give us what is really the desires of our heart.

Paul's heart was to preach the Gospel in Rome. But when he got there, God let him be a prisoner because he wanted Paul to write the letters which brought us to the New Testament today. He had better plans in mind for Paul.

Rick Warren ended with a quote saying:

"When you pray, & the request isn't right, God says 'NO'.

When you pray, & you're not right, God says 'GROW'.

When you pray, & the timing isn't right, God says 'SLOW' or 'NOT YET'.

When you pray, & everything is in place, God says 'GO'."

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It was very refreshing to hear that preaching from Rick Warren. :3


"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." - Mark 11:24 (NIV)