May the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be praised. Welcome as we dive into the Bible, the living Word of God.
There are things that God’s people desire to receive or accomplish according to their own timing, yet they often do not realize that God has His own appointed time to grant these desires or answer their prayers. It is crucial to understand this divine timing.
When we are born again and Christ dwells within us, we bring our requests and needs before God in prayer. He hears us, and on the appointed day, He wonderfully answers—if we have prayed according to His will.
However, the results of God’s answers may not always match our expectations. Many of us want God to give us something immediately upon asking, without realizing that God’s purpose is not to destroy us through what we request
Proverbs 1:32(ESV), “For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them”
Before God grants you what you ask, He must first remove the foolishness within you. Foolishness often comes from the weakness of the flesh and the sinful lifestyles we once lived. God will never give you something good only for it to become your destruction; otherwise, He would not be a wise and loving Father.
Therefore, the season of removing foolishness is a necessary preparation period—sometimes it can take a very long time.
A Parable to Understand This Better:
Imagine you are a wealthy parent and your toddler asks you for a car. As a loving and wise parent, you wouldn’t hand over the keys immediately. Why? Because the child doesn’t yet know how to read, count, or understand traffic rules—how then could they safely drive?
Instead, you promise the car for the future but first take the child to school. There, they learn what a car is, how to drive responsibly, and the laws of the road—not for luxury but for purpose and safety.
The time from the promise to actually receiving the car might take 15 years. That means the child will be 25 years old when they get the car, even though they asked at age 10.
If we, as parents, act with such wisdom, how much more God!
God’s Preparation Process
You cannot ask God for something great and expect to receive it immediately with your current understanding. God must first prepare you—and this preparation might take years.
Only when you meet His conditions will He grant your requests.
If you have not yet received what you asked for, it means you have not finished God’s classes. Be patient and keep trusting the Lord.
You cannot ask God for wealth and still entertain selfish or prideful thoughts. God will not give you blessings while you still harbor destructive attitudes—He will first remove that foolishness through His training, sometimes even through seasons of poverty, so you learn compassion and generosity.
If you are quick to understand God’s lessons and your foolishness leaves early, you may receive your promises sooner. But if you resist, expect delays.
Spiritual Gifts and Purity of Heart
You cannot request spiritual gifts from God while harboring selfish motives like pride or oppression of others within the body of Christ. Although you asked for a good thing, God hears you but will not give it while your heart is corrupt.
First, He will take you through special lessons to teach you the true purpose and meaning of spiritual gifts, so you use them for the benefit of others, not personal gain.
Only after you prove yourself faithful and mature will God entrust you with these gifts.
The Principle of Prayer and God’s Will
Always remember, God is a loving Father who will not give you anything that will ultimately destroy you.
Therefore, seek to know God’s will. When you align your desires with His will, it becomes easier to receive answers, because there is less foolishness in your heart.
If you don’t know or follow God’s will, your prayers will be delayed, no matter how many intercessors pray for you, because God’s principles remain unchanged.
Biblical Foundation: James 4:2-3 (ESV)
“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
If you pray for a child but secretly desire to use that child to harm your enemies or prove something to others, your prayer may be delayed. But if you ask with pure intentions, to nurture and raise the child in God’s fear, your request may be answered sooner.
Final Encouragement
Dear brother or sister, start today by seeking to understand God’s will. When you know and live by His will, you reduce foolishness within, and your prayers will be answered in God’s perfect timing.
Remember, you cannot skip God’s classrooms. The training and growth are part of the journey to receiving the blessings He has promised.
May the Lord bless you richly.