When it comes to prayer, some believers are misled about a minor, but still significant point. So let me state clearly… You cannot manipulate God through prayer. Now let me explain…
It is written in Scripture…
Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you…
If you have the faith of a mustard seed you can say to this mountain be plucked up and cast into the sea and it will happen…
If two agree on earth about anything they ask it will be done for them by my Father in heaven…
Because of those passages they “claim the promise” and then proceed to ask God for whatever… expecting God (?!) to answer their request positively.
Only one problem… God will not be used. God is NOT a cosmic Santa Clause or errand boy or servant to us. He is GOD and He will NOT be held captive to anyone… including His own (misguided) children.
So I’d like to suggest we keep in mind a few other passages of Scripture…
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. {Two points: 1) We don’t know how to pray properly; 2) God’s will is supreme in prayer being answered.}
And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
When we pray… if our prayer is in agreement with God’s will… it will be answered positively. If it’s not consistent with God’s will… it won’t. It doesn’t matter how much faith we have, how many are praying with us, or how passionately we pray… the answer will be no (For God’s glory and our ultimate good). God cannot be manipulated by our prayers…
I have been praying for one of my sons for many years but over a year now the prayers are for a different situation. Our relationship is strained, to say the least. He has a son who is six and has over the past year limited my contact with him. This has been heart breaking for me and my grandson, who can not understand why he can’t come to Corinth and have sleepovers with his granny like his other cousins do. My prayer is for healing for our relationship and forgiveness to replace the anger he has built up. Because I have not received the answer yet, does that mean, for some reason, it is not God’s will? I do believe that God will answer and I don’t feel it is misguided faith. Am I wrong?
Peggy. Just because you have not YET received an answer does NOT mean your prayer is outside God’s will. It just means that at this time He has not yet answered. The point of the post was to assert that it is impossible to MANIPULATE God through our prayers. There is a difference. You are NOT misguided in your faith to continue praying. I know a lady who prayed FIFTY years for her husband to be saved. She never quit… never stopped… and eventually God answered affirmatively to save him. I hope that answers your question. Blessings and KEEP ON PRAYING!