40 Days of Prayer: When God Says "No"
40 DAYS OF PRAYER
When God Says “No”
February 21, 2021
Jeremiah 33:3 - “Call to Me and I will answer you…”
Three of The Many Reasons God Says ‘No’
CAUTION: Use these to comfort yourself, but NEVER use them with someone in pain, because you don’t know why God said “No” to them.
1. God says ‘no’ when He has a bigger
Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Proverbs 2:8 - (God) guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.
2. God says ‘no’ when He has a better
Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Hebrews 11:39-40 - These were commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned SOMETHING BETTER…
• God has all of eternity to
3. God says ‘no’ when He has a greater
Psalm 57:2 - I cry out to God Most High, who fulfills his purpose for me.
1 Peter 1:7 - The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold. (GW)
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 - These present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they will produce in us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18 So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. (NLT)
Deuteronomy 29:29 - There are some things the Lord our God has kept secret, but there are some things he has let us know. (NCV)
What Should I Do When God Says ‘No’?
1. Trust that God does
Psalm 25:10 - All the ways of the Lord are loving…
Romans 8:28 - In everything God works for the good of those who love Him. (ICB)
* I don’t have to understand God’s answer to know that it is motivated by love.
2. When in pain, pray what Jesus prayed when facing the
Mark 14:35-36 - Going a little farther, Jesus fell to the ground praying that, if possible, he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him. Jesus prayed 36 “Abba! My Father! All things are possible for you! Please take this cup of suffering away from me! Yet I want your will, not mine, to be done!”
The Right Way to Pray:
•
“Father, I know you can do anything!”
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“Father, please give me what I ask!”
•
“However, what I want most is your will!”
3. Expect God to give His grace to
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 - (Paul) Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. 9 But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” 10 So, I gladly boast about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power can flow through me! … For when I am weak, then I am strong!
Psalm 9:10 - Those who know you, Lord, will trust you! You do not abandon anyone who comes to you! (TEV)