30 for 30 RESET – Day 18

Gatheringplace   -   September 18, 2024

Over the past couple of days, we have looked at two reasons why some prayers do not get answered. Today we will look at a third.

Sovereignty – God just says no.

God has good reasons to say no. Here are three of them.

  1. It won’t be good for you.

I remember when Hope and I were trying to sell our house in Escondido and move to Ramona. Hope found a house she wanted badly. Views were her thing, and boy did this place have a view!

We put in an offer, then another, then another. Plus, we were not getting any bites on our Escondido house. School season was rolling around, so we had to pull the plug.

Five years later God opened the door for us to buy a home in Ramona that spanked that other house, and for MUCH cheaper. In fact, in retrospect if we had purchased that other home, it would have sunk us.

God kept shutting the door and would not let us get it. However, in our current home, our realtor said that in thirty years of buying and selling homes, he has never seen God move heaven and earth like that to make a deal happen. He literally counted fifteen things that should have killed the deal, but they kept resolving themselves. It was clear to him that God’s hand was in it.

“This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open” Revelation 3:7 NLT

  1. God’s plan is bigger and better than yours.

Think about when Paul wanted to go into a town and preach, but the Holy Spirit said, “No.” Then he tried to go into another town, and the Holy Spirit said, “No.” Then that night God gave Paul a dream about going to Philippi, and through the events of that trip one of the most powerful churches in the entire world was birthed.

Or think about how Jesus pleaded with God to take the cup of suffering away from Him. He asked God three times to come up with another way. God said, “No.” And the result? Salvation for the entire human race was made possible.

Sometimes God’s will for your life is more than just about you. It is so that you can be a bigger blessing to those around you, and possibly to the entire world.

And finally,

  1. It’s just not in God’s will.

“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it is here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 NLT

Whatever you are asking for must be in God’s will. So often we just throw up every desire we have and think God is responsible to fulfill all our desires. He’s not, and He doesn’t. He is an abundant giver, and more than good and gracious, but that doesn’t mean He gives us everything we want. Everything we need? Yes. Everything we want? No.

“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 NKJ

There are hundreds of promises we can boldly, and confidently claim in the Bible that we know are in God’s will. But there are other times we want things, but they just might not be in God’s plans for you. This is where humility comes in. You might need to humble yourself and say, like Jesus, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

I hope these past three posts have been insightful, and hopefully helpful for you as you wrestle with unanswered prayers. But as you process these things, remember this one thing: God ALWAYS has your best interest in mind.

“I love you with an everlasting love. So I will continue to show you my kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 GNT

John

 

QUICK TIP ON HOW TO SPEND 30 MINUTES WITH GOD (REMEMBER: This 30 for 30 is a tool to help you, not a rule to shame you. Just do your best and let God do the rest.)

“Upward, Inward, and Outward”

  1. Upward: Get quiet. Settle down. Begin to thank God for Who He is – patient, kind, merciful. A God Who forgives sins – Who has forgiven your sins. A God Who cares, Who listens to your prayers, a miracle-working God. (There are many other attributes you can thank Him for. Go HERE for a prayer guide as well as a list of God’s names that will help you thank Him for Who He is)
  2. Inward: Read a chapter in the Bible. I would suggest one Psalm per day. Start with Psalm 1 and go from there. Or read one chapter of Proverbs per day. Start with Proverbs 1 and go from there. And as you read, stop, and think about what it is saying. Take your time (even if you do not get through an entire chapter – it is okay!). Ask God to speak to you through it.

A deeper dive: For those of you who would like to read the Bible in a year, here is a fantastic way to do it. It will take more than 30 minutes per day, but it will be well worth it. It not only gives you a reading plan but each day there is a short, very well-produced video explaining what you are about to read. Go HERE for your one year through the Bible reading plan.

  1. Outward: Ask God to show you how He can use you to reach those around you. Then begin to pray specifically for individuals. Pray for your family members, your boss, co-workers, classmates, friends, your church, its members, its mission, and its leadership. Pray for our city and our nation – that God would rule and reign in every mountain of influence, raising up leaders who fear Him: Church, Family, Government, Education, Media, Entertainment/Arts, and Business. You will not be able to get to everything in 30 minutes, but that is okay, just pick an area or two per day.

PRAYER POINTS

Personal:

  • Closeness with God
  • Deeper devotion to Christ
  • Renewed vision
  • Renewed passion
  • Strength
  • Joy
  • A profound commitment to act as Jesus would during this election year.

Church:

  • And increase of God’s manifest presence.
  • To see more CHANGED LIVES!
  • An increase in Miracles
  • Salvation for those far from God (make a list and pray for them every day)
  • More young people joining the vision at GPC.
  • New building for GPC

World:

  • A mighty harvest in our city and nation.
  • That godly men and women will fill the seats of government at local, city, state, and national levels.
  • For our missionaries (Use the bookmark handed out at church, or go to our website and check out our Missions page HERE)