又或是，神要等到適合的時間，才會答應我們的懇求。神是至高掌權的神，對於要如何、何時和何處應允我們的祈求，完全是由祂決定的。接受神說「稍等」，絕不會比接受神說「不」來得容易。從我們的角度來看，神大有理由要立即應允我們的禱告；可是，我們若願意安靜下來，等候神的時間，我們將來便可以看到神的時間是何等的恰到好處。

有些時候，神的回應會令我們感到意外。這時，我們必須緊記羅馬書八章28節這句寶貴的經文，相信神叫萬事互相效力，為的是使我們得著益處。凡事都有神的計劃和旨意。

你曾經要耐心等候神的回應嗎？你的祈求曾經被神拒絕嗎？神的回應曾經叫你大感意外嗎？無論如何，我們相信愛我們的天父，終將最好的給予祂的兒女。我們禱告的時候，若能真誠地輕輕對祂說：「父啊，不要照我的意思，要照你的意思」，你的內心必頓時充滿格外的平安與恩惠。

經訓：

「我的恩典夠你用的。」哥林多後書十二章9節

Day 18

WHEN GOD SAYS NO

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O LORD of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

Message

If I am a child of God and prayer is one of my privileges, why aren't all of my prayers answered? Why does God take so long when he knows I really want or need what I am praying for?

There are many reasons why God says 'No'. It may be that he has something better for us. There are several examples in the Bible of that. When Abraham prayed (Gen. 17:18) that Ishmael might be recognised by God as Abraham's son and heir, God said 'No'. He had something better planned. He was going to give Abraham and Sarah a true son. That promised son was Isaac.

When Elijah prayer 'O Lord take away my life' (1 Kings 19:4), God said, 'No, I have something better planned'. Elijah lived ten more years and then did not die in the usual way. God had a much better way than to agree to Elijah's foolish prayer.

Or it may not be God's time to grant that request. God keeps in his sovereign hands how, when, where he will grant our request. It isn't any easier however to accept God's answer 'Wait' than it is to accept his answer 'No'. There seems every reason for God to answer our prayer right now. But if we wait for his timing, we will later see how perfect it is.

God sometimes answers our prayer in a way we do not expect. When he does that, remember that great verse, Romans 8:28 and believe that God does all things well. He has a plan and purpose in it all.

Have you been waiting for the Lord to answer your prayer? Has he said 'No'? Is the answer something different? Whatever it is, you can trust him to do what is best for you. Quietly and sincerely say to him 'Not my will but yours be done', and you will know added peace and blessing in your heart.

A VERSE FOR TODAY:

My grace is sufficient for you

2 Corinthians 12:9