How to Pray When Your Answer Is Delayed

Current Teaching Series Radicalis: Developing Spiritual Roots

How to Pray When Your Answer Is Delayed By Rick Warren — Nov 25, 2017 “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV). God’s timing is perfect. We may think he’s late, but he’s never late. God’s delays are not God’s denials. “Not yet” does not mean “no.” What should you do when your prayer is being delayed? You keep on praying until one of three things happens: 1. You get the answer. When you get it, then you can stop praying for it — obviously. 2. You get the assurance that you’re going to get what you’re praying for. Sometimes God does that! He says, “I’m going to give you this,” and you’re sure of it. You stop asking God for it, and you start thanking God for it and acting on it. Mark 11:24 says, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (NIV). When I was in high school, I got a letter one day that said I had received a four-year scholarship to college. I didn’t wait for the money to come in to start acting on it. I started getting ready. I bought some new clothes and got my van in shape. I got ready, said goodbye to my friends, and took off. I acted in faith. I had the assurance that money was coming, even though I didn’t have it in hand. We can act that way with God and believe in faith that he will deliver on his promise in his time. 3. You keep praying until God reveals to you that it’s not his will. When you figure that out, you become uncomfortable praying about it and you don’t have any peace, so you stop praying for that request. In order to receive an answer from God, you’ve got to be willing to let God answer in his time! But he will answer because he is trustworthy, he hears your prayers, and he will respond. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Think of a time when God responded to your prayer with, “Not yet.” How did you react? If God has given you assurance about one of your prayers, what do you now need to do to act in faith? Are you willing to let God answer your prayers in his time? How is that evident in your life?

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Series Summary Session 1: Radical Gratitude Session 2: Radical Faith Session 3: Radical Joy Session 4: Radical Hope Session 5: Radical Generosity Session 6: Radical Freedom Session 7: Radical Love PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe