I came across a devotional writing recently from an old book in my library. I found it very enlightening, and its message rang true. It also came in perfect timing to address an old grumble of mine (perhaps yours too) I.e; why doesn’t God answer my prayers?.

Well, the fact of the matter is he ignores most of them. Why? Read the Scripture from James chapter 2: verse 15 to 17.

“If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

You see, He won’t answer selfish prayers. He will only act upon issues that he expects us to do ourselves. As believers, we have delegated authority. However, if we refuse to move in that authority i.e. feed the poor, clothe the naked, give alms to the destitute, our prayer requests won’t even have the power to reach the ceiling let alone the throne room of God!

Faith without works… Never works! In the natural, wouldn’t your children be crippled if, from birth, you carried them everywhere.? Strength only comes from resistance. As one who has spent several months exercising with a bullworker machine, I can tell you the Jane Fonda phrase -” no pain – no gain” is absolutely accurate.!

We must accompany our prayers with works. Why would our Father in heaven answer our prayers when he has given us the wherewithal to deal with the issue?

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had much grain in the large barns on his land. He was waiting on rising market prices prior to selling. He was accustomed to praying for the needy, and pleading with God to remember the poor – to supply all their needs. However, he fully believed and expected that God would do it, and did nothing himself.

One day, after hearing his dad pray the usual prayer, the farmer’s five-year-old son said to him, “Daddy, may I have half of your corn in the barns?” His astonished father replied “Son – why? What would you do with all that corn? The little lad said

“I would answer your prayers!”