Quite often, when a person’s prayer goes unanswered, you’ll hear something like this “Well, I prayed for him, but he didn’t get well. I guess God said no”.

Is this TRULY the CASE? OR is this nothing more than a satanic justification of a lack of faith! It’s time this excuse was exposed for the LIE that it is!

HOW does God say no? Let’s look at one example of where a righteous man, whose prayers God heard, was told “No”.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Paul prayed that the thorn in his flesh, which isn’t named, would be healed. And God said “No, it’s there for a reason”. But if you’ll notice, God ACTUALLY said that. If you have a red-letter Bible, you”ll notice this is in red for a reason! If you literally hear God saying “No”, then you aren’t justifying of a lack of faith. But I’ve yet to meet someone who had this happen!

And there is another example of a man whom God loved, who was told “No”. Again, this was for a very good reason. Nathan the prophet went to King David, immediately after the “Bathsheba incident” and told him “God says no… the child will die”.

2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

David had already been told “NO”, but he prayed and fasted anyway. He was hoping he’d change God’s mind.

Verses 18-23 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. …. But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

David and Paul prayed for something God had a good reason not to give them. If you do the same, IF YOU HAVE FAITH, God will tell you just as he told them. But God ignoring your prayer is most definitely NOT him saying no! God not answering your prayer is your own lack of faith, nothing more! If you indeed have faith, and God decides this can’t happen, HE’LL TELL YOU. Unless He tells you this, the answer wasn’t “No”, but rather “I can’t listen to you right now, you are simply too unclean”!

Ezekiel 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.

If you justify your prayers not being answered, if you make excuses for why God ignores you, excuses that allow you to feel good about yourself, your prayers WILL NEVER BE ANSWERED!

Jeremiah 8:6, 10 I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle…. Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

It’s time to stop LYING to yourself! Time to stop justifying God not answering your prayers! It’s time to ask yourself WHAT HAVE I DONE to cause this, WHAT DID I DO that prevents God from hearing me – before it’s too late!

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

If you truly want it to change, then FIND OUT WHY God isn’t HEARING you! On the other hand, if you are happy the way you are, if you are satisfied with the amount of faith you have now, if you just want to FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF, then you only have the unmitigated judgment of God to look forward to!

Revelation 3:17, 19 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:… As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent!