Chaplains Corner

Praying Prayers That Get Answered

by Chaplain Brent Richards

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content…. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ (1Tim.6:7-8, 4:6).”

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Lk.11:9).”

…. And I say to you, whatever things you ask, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them (Mk.11:24).”

God always answers prayer and makes a way for His will to be done by those who wish to do it. And that brings us to the subject in my heart to write about this month: praying prayers that get answered. Now, I’m not great at this and I’m still learning, but many scriptures promise us to expect our prayers to be answered, which always trouble me, because my track record of getting some prayers answered has been pretty abysmal. On the other hand, as I said, the prayers for help doing His will do seem to be answered. To really follow this study on prayer that gets answered, you’ll have to look up most of the scriptures, as space won’t allow me to print them all out. I think the thing that troubles me mostly about prayer, has been my inability to get my will done. I read verses such as Mt.17:20, 21:22, or Jn.14:14 or 15:7, and hear well known faith/prosperity teachers expound on the many earthly blessings these promises contain to those of “real” faith, and I can walk away a little confused or even condemned that after all these years of being a Christian, I still haven’t attained such material and physical blessings as answers to my “believing” faith.

I have no one to blame, I suppose, than myself, because those scripture promises state that I must not doubt in my heart and, if I’m honest, down in my heart I do doubt that God wants my will for earthly matters to be done. I don’t think He’s all that impressed with my track record for running things or even my potential ability to (Jer.10:23). I have to admit, that when I first consider verses such as Mt.7:8, my first fleshly impulse is to start directing things and calling things that are not into being (Rom.4:17). But I’ve had little success – well, none, really. I can run that way for short bursts, but eventually I’m faced in my heart with the things I’m lusting for, and can’t reconcile them to God’s Word. James 4:1-4 deals with asking amiss, and I think I’ve got asking amiss down pat. After all these years I still seem prone to it on the surface. But, since the consequences of asking amiss include enmity with God, fights and wars with others, and even leanness of soul when we do stubbornly obtain contrary to God’s perfect will (Ps.106:15), I’m done with it. Not done praying (which includes praying confidently for needs – Phl’p.4:6), mind you; just praying amiss.

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Chaplain Brent Richards serves in the Jail and Prison Ministry.