Disobedience on Our Part will Shut the Ear of God Against many of Our Prayers

Tip! The Holy Bible says in (John 5:13) this statement about prayer: And 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, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

There are many things which would be pleasing to God for us to do that He has not specifically commanded us to do or not to do. A true child is not content with merely doing those things that their father specifically commands them to do. They study to know their father's will, and if they think that there is any thing that they can do that would please their father, they do it gladly, though their father has never given them any specific orders to do it. So it is with us as true children of God. We do not ask merely whether certain things are commanded or if certain things are forbidden. We study to know our Father's will in all things.

There are many Christians today who are doing things that are not pleasing to God, and leaving undone things which would be pleasing to God. When you speak to them about these things they will confront you at once with the question, "Is there any command in the Bible not to do this thing?" And if you cannot show them some verse in which the matter in question is plainly forbidden, they think they are under no obligation whatever to give it up.

But a true child of God does not demand a specific command. If we make it our study to find out and to do the things which are pleasing to God, He will make His study to do the things which are pleasing to us.

Tip! In (Phil. 4:6) we have these words about prayer: Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

Here again is where we find the explanation of many unanswered prayer! We are not making it the study of our lives to know what would please our Father, and so our prayers are not answered.

Take as an illustration the questions that are constantly coming up today. There is the matter of pornography, dancing or the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Many who are indulging in these things will ask you triumphantly if you speak against them, 'Does the Bible say, 'Thou shall not look at pornography?' 'Does the Bible say, 'Thou shall not dance?' 'Does the Bible say, 'Thou shall not drink and smoke or use drugs?' NO IT DOES NOT - That is not the question.

Tip! Approach God in prayer and ask for a fit body. Get clear and visualize your fit body and believe.

The question is; is our heavenly Father well pleased when He sees one of His children looking at pornography, at the dance, high, drunk or smoking? That is a question for each of us to decide for ourselves - prayerfully, seeking light from the Holy Spirit. "Where is the harm in these things?" many ask. It is aside from our purpose to go into the general question, but beyond a doubt there is this great harm in many a case; they rob our prayers of power.

Psalm 145:18 throws a great deal of light on the question of how to pray: "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth."