On yesterday, I proposed a question; “Is God deliberately not answering my prayers?” I’m sure you too have asked yourself the same and the response is yes. Often times, God deliberately won’t answer our prayers for several reasons:

1. What you’re asking for is not of God’s will. It doesn’t matter how good you think it is or what purpose it’ll serve. It has to be God’s purpose for your life or for the “advancement of His Kingdom” (Daniel 2:44).
2. Your motives/heart is not pure. If you are praying for your own selfish reasons, wickedly, or that God brings forth harm to someone (especially if they’ve hurt you), consider that prayer canceled! God will avenge all His people and even says in His word, “Vengeance is mine says the Lord” (Deuteronomy 32:35).
3. Preparation has to occur first. A lot of things we ask God for, we don’t have the strength or mental capacity to handle it. God has great things planned for us, but we must be ready in order to receive them and do what He has planned for us to do. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10).
4. God has better plans for us. Many times, the things we think are of benefit to us only prove to be detrimental for us. We think because it’s “our life” and we know what’s best, we go ahead of God only to discover how bad we end up needing Him. However, God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8) and “He knows the plans He has for us. Plans to prosper us and not harm us. Plans for a hope and future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

There are a number of reasons God won’t answer our prayers, but those are the most common. In any event, know that God has your best interest at heart and when the time has come and you are ready, God will answer your prayers.

La’Rue

Have you ever thought to yourself “Why am I doing this?” Or did you just do it without thinking? Do you give thought to why certain events occur and you end up in them? Maybe you can’t understand why you’re met with such opposition, and others aren’t. Perhaps you’re struggling to stay afloat, while so many others sail right by you. I’m sure your list of questions continues, but did you ever stop and ask yourself, “God why me?” All of the above questions (and so many more) was continuously asked and at the forefront of my mind last year.

You all have read about my struggles and troubles and how I viciously fought to overcome, only to realize God was listening but not responding, at least not immediately. No matter when I prayed, where I prayed, or how many times I prayed, they went unanswered. I was already upset by my situation and His failure to respond only frustrated (and infuriated) me more. After a year of this, I had to ask myself another question; “Is God deliberately not answering my prayers? If so, then why?”

La’Rue

I’m a person that enjoys food, particularly meal sampling, and if it’s something my palate has taken complete interest in, I want more of it. In fact, I want a double portion of everything. It’s not long before I realize I’ve bitten off more than I can chew (no pun intended). Because of my poor upbringing, I know what it’s like to go without eating, so I try not to waste food nor have any leftovers. On the contrary, I must say, for many people God is going to give you double what you’ve asked for.

Your portion will be in such excess that you will have so much leftover, ultimately deciding “What must I do?” Although the decision is entirely yours, I suggest you do for others what God is about to do for you; create an overflow. “How do you know these things? Are you a Minister?” I was recently asked, and my response is no. I just know that when God speaks to my spirit, I listen and share His “notes.” If you’re still scratching your head and saying, “I don’t know about this one,” don’t take my word for it. Instead take it straight to the Source. He knows best!

La’Rue

Today marks my 6-month anniversary at my new job and the end of my new employee probationary status. I’ll be honest, I anxiously counted down to this day because God is about to really go to work in my life. I know you’re probably saying, “God didn’t have to wait for anything because He can do whatever He wants, when He chooses to do it.” While you are correct, I know God often makes us wait on Him for any given time, but now that the time is up, He’s about to show me why I had to wait in the first place. I live my life not just seeking change but expecting it.

I’ve relinquished the notion that when God moves it’ll take Him years to do so. Instead, I expect Him to do things suddenly because I know He’s capable of doing it. He’s quickly shifting things from the old to the new. I’ve not only waited for this time, but I’ve been preparing for it. I don’t need to physically see things moving to confirm my situation is changing. I have a sense of knowing. I know God is working, I know what God promised me, and I know my time is coming. If there’s anything you need clarity on, ask God. After all, He’s all knowing.

La’Rue

I’m no stranger to public transportation and with the constant price gauging of gas, I’m strongly considering going back. As a kid, I remember riding the city line bus to just about every place my family and I needed to go. I can still hear the chain rustling as I dropped it in the meter, after I boarded. Once I took my seat, I waited and anticipated arriving to our destination. If you haven’t learned me yet, I struggle with waiting. Impatiently, I sat and watched as each person’s time to get off came and went. After waiting for what seemed like forever, the driver announced the next stop, which was ours.

I bet when you many of you “got on board” with God, you had no clue how long the ride would be. As you journeyed along, you watched person after person reach their destination as you remained seated. Every so often, you’d glance up and ask the driver (God) “How much longer?” However, you and I both know God doesn’t reveal His timing, but things happen at the right timing. Just because it hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Don’t get so frustrated with the delay that you miss “your turn.” Be patient. You’re up next!

La’Rue