OptimisticOmoTee's Desk: Why Does God Not Answer Prayers?

This is one question we must have asked at one point or the other in our Christian walk with God. It is like a child asking his father "why can't you become pregnant?. This question is absolutely impossible.

How do I mean? God answers prayers. So, the question should not be, 'Why does God not answer prayers?' but rather 'Why are answers to prayers not received?'.

Isn't it great to know that there is none of your prayers that are not answered. You are probably asking, "How sure are you about that?" "I have not yet received answers to some of my prayers since like forever". Yes. Maybe. But God has answered you prayer. 

Some of the answers to this question, you know and most likely do not acknowledge.

 Why are answers to prayers not received?

1.  Ask: We often mistake 'lamentation' for 'asking' in prayer. Telling God your problem is very different from asking God for solution to your problem. The Bible did not say, "Tell your problems..." rather it says " Ask..." (Matthew 7:7). Of course, you cannot ask God for problems. So, when you are praying and mentioning your problems, you are just saying "God, for your information, I have a problem". Mostly when this happens, we tend to forget the asking part that will yield results to our prayers. Before you conclude that God does not answer prayers, confirm if you actually asked for anything. Also, don't forget that whosoever ask, receives...Matthew 7:8
2. Faith:  Jesus answered with a word to Peter when they saw the fig tree dried- "Have Faith in God" (Mark 11:22). If you don't believe that God answers prayers and that He has already answered your prayers, then you cannot receive it. God has done His part, the receiving is in your hands. Faith is the lifestyle of a true believer of the Gospel of Christ. Faith is the whole essence of Christianity. Lack of faith denies us the opportunity to enter into the fulness of God's provision. The way to grow in faith is simply through the Word of God. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ....(Romans 10:17). It is not just about reading the Bible but it is about living the Bible. Anyone who is acquitted with the things of the Kingdom but yet acknowledges it not, is an evildoer (2 Timothy 3:7). Acknowledging the Word means embracing, accepting or believing it. The opposite of faith is doubt. If you are doubtful, you can never receive from God  (James 1:6-8). You can hinder yourself from receiving because of unbelief (Hebrew 11:6).
3. Motive: Simon the sorcerer believed in Jesus and followed Philip in Samaria. He became a believer. He desired the gift of the spirit but for wrong motive (Acts 8:9-22). It is possible that what you ask for is good but the 'why' could be wrong. In this case, you are denying yourself the recipience of your expectation (James 4:3). Everything in life has rules guiding it including the operation of Heavenly things. Apostle Paul explained this in 2 Timothy 2:5, there are rules to asking and receiving from God. Few examples of such rules is Ask and Faith. To know and understand this rules, you must be conversant with the Word.
4. Principalities: There are principalities, powers, dominions and forces of darkness in heavenly places that can hinder your prayer from being received. Immediately we pray, God has answered and responded but our receiving it could be hindered by principalities. Daniel prayed to God and the Bible recorded that as soon as he began to pray, God replied to his request and before he finished praying, it was delivered by Angel Gabriel (Daniel 9:23). But the second time Daniel prayed, he prayed earnestly and fasted for 3 weeks without response from God. Because he knew that his God does answer prayers and do not delay intentionally, he kept on praying for 3 weeks. Indeed, God had answered him from the first day he embarked on that prayer but the Angel sent to deliver to Daniel was detained by prince of Persian kingdom (Daniel 10:12-13). If Daniel had not stayed in the place of prayer, that angel wouldn't have been able to deliver that message to him. Daniel's heart was so close to God that he was addressed by the Angel of the Lord as "Highly Esteemed". Can God say the same thing about you? How much can you stay in the place of prayer?

Don't be deceived, God answers prayers always. This are His promises;

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

-Isaiah 49:15-16
 

 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

-Matthew 7:11

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

-Romans 8:38-39

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
-Colossians 1:16

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
-Colossians 2:15