You've been up all night petitioning the Courts of Heaven. Asking for a supernatural healing. Seeking a supernatural miracle. Or simply making a small, simple request. Who knows? But you've prayed and you didn't receive it.
What happened? Too often we are quick to tell ourselves it wasn't God's Will for us. Well I can only speak for myself and I didn't fall back on that. Instead, I asked Holy Spirit to reveal where I messed up. What did I do wrong? Let's make this a learning experience.
Throughout the gospels, we are told by the Word (Jesus) in the word to ask in His name and believe.
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19 KJV
Here's the formula for Matthew 18:
At least two are in one accord + Asking = Received
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:21-22 KJV
Here's the formula for Matthew 21:
Faith - Doubt + Ask = Receive
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24 KJV
Here's the formula for Mark 11:
Desire + Pray + Believe = Receive
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:13-14 KJV
Here's the formula for John 14:
Ask in His name = Receive
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15:7 KJV
Be in Him + Keep His Word in you + Ask = Receive
There are plenty others in the gospels. PLENTY MORE! But what good does it do to apply only one or two scriptures and wonder why your prayer isn't answered.
Let's take the last referenced scripture as an example. Before Jesus mentioned the formula, he gave a prerequisite.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:4-8 KJV
What's the prerequisite? Well you must abide in Him or become a branch that's been cutoff and sitting next to the vine withering away.
So if you are following the formula and meet the prerequisites, then the Word says you shall have what you request. If you don't receive it, is it not His Will?
I ask because too far I've heard this lame excuse people use that it wasn't His Will for someone to receive what they have asked for. It's like the go to excuse.
"I asked," they say, "but I guess it wasn't His Will for me to receive it."
If this is the case, why would the Word tell us over and over to ask? I'll tell you why! Because His Word and His Will are synonymous. One can't be without the other. We cannot be within His Will without His Word and vice versa.
Again...I ask again why is 'it wasn't His Will' the go to response? Because we are too lazy to ask Him what we did wrong. Where the fault was in us. We don't humble ourselves and look in the mirror. His Word doesn't lie. If we follow the formula we shall receive.
One thing I do believe, though, is if my heart is aligned with His heart, then my will is definitely aligned with His Will and I'm not asking for anything that goes against it. With this knowledge, I am armed with receiving every time I ask.
But let me tell a true story. I asked for something. And I reminded Him that I'm asking according to His Word. I reminded Him that I believed I would receive it...and I didn't get it. Oh I was upset! I reminded Him of His Word and asked Him what happened. I asked and asked what I did wrong, in anger though.
The next day, I was calm about it. Full of repentance. And I asked again: Lord, why didn't I receive it. I heard only a few words of a scripture and I could have slapped myself in the face. With those few words, Holy Spirit reminded me that I'd prayed the complete opposite to what I was currently praying at one time. I mean COMPLETE opposite. Standing on a different word. I could've laughed but instead, a peace like no other came over me: be careful what you pray and know what you've prayed before.
So was it God's Will for me to receive what I asked for. It sure was! What happened? I messed it up.
So before we go blaming God, the Son, or His Spirit for something, maybe we should look at ourselves. What have we not done that we should have done? Are we in complete obedience? Is there a smidgen of sin that's caused us to be cut off? Are there 'what ifs' lurking around cancelling out faith?
If we've done what we are supposed to do, then the formula works 100% of the time and we SHALL receive what we request. Guaranteed!
So stop blaming anyone but yourself when you don't receive. The Word doesn't lie.
Always,
Keiyia JOYet George
See Psalm 37: Part 3 - Heart's Desire
Note: This is not a 'name it and claim it' endorsement. I do not believe in the trend that many preach, saying you can get whatever you ask for. There are prerequisites to asking and receiving and all must be met in order to receive. Thinking you can have anything you want is absurd. Align your heart with His and watch not only a change in you, but a change in your asking. Some things just won't matter anymore.