Topic: Four Ways God Answers Persistent Prayer [RICK WARREN Devotional 19 September 2021]

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Four Ways God Answers Persistent Prayer

BY RICK WARREN — SEPTEMBER 19, 2021

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers.”

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)There is no such thing as unanswered prayer. God may not always answer the way you like, but he always answers prayer in one of four ways:

When your request is not right, God says, “No.”

God is not going to give you something that’s harmful for you. He only gives you his best! He sometimes says “no” because your request does not match his best for you.

When you’re not right, God says, “Grow.”

Maybe God wants to give you something—maybe even a blessing so big you can’t imagine it—but you’re not ready for the responsibility. It could even cause stress in your life if he gave it to you now. Don’t stop praying! Keep reading God’s Word and making Christ your first pursuit.

When the timing’s not right, God says, “Slow.”

Habakkuk 2:3 says, “The time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (TLB) It’s coming, but it’s not here yet. God wants to take it slow, until you’re ready to handle it. Growth often needs to be paced. And it always takes time.

When your request and the timing and your character are all lined up, God says, “Go.”

Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers” (NLT). You don’t pray persistently because you’re trying to convince God. You pray persistently so that you’re ready when God says, “Go.”

Always believe that God is going to answer your prayer. It might not always be the answer you want or expect, but it will always be for your good and for God’s glory.

• When you’ve been waiting a long time for God to answer a prayer, how do you stay encouraged?
• Do you trust God’s timing? Why or why not?
• If you’re waiting on God to say “go,” what can you do to grow in spiritual maturity while you wait?