I am not sure that everyone reads the COMMENTS from others so I thought I would bring forth a recent comment made by a reader, and make a Post out of it, since it is a common question and my answer may help us think through some hard questions scripturally:
The Comment and Question was:
This really is helpful (meaning the “Our Assurance” post) yet I’m nonetheless unclear about something: do you think that God sometimes just doesn’t want to give us what we are believing for, because He knows something more than we do and knows what is better for us?
Hi S.C. and thanks for your question. I believe the Lord does not always give us what we “believe” for in prayer for a couple different reasons and a few Scriptures which immediately come to mind, to prove this, are as follows:
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures – James 4:3
This verse shows me that the motive or reason WHY we ask for THINGS is a big deal to God since covetousness and/or greed for more and bigger and better things can be idolatry, as seen below:
5-…men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6-But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7-For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8-But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9-People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10-For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy (Also see Hebrews 13:5, Colossians 3:5 etc — all of this I try to touch on in the Category “The Great Money Question”.)
Another reason why we may not receive what we are “believing” for from God, could be due to conceit:
7-To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8-Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9-But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Cor 12.
And yet another reason could be sin in our lives:
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened – Psalm 66:18, along with:
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers – 1 Peter 3:7, and also:
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. – Mark 11:25 … this Mark 11:25 warning is right after the great Mark 11:23 and 24 verses which are often quoted for getting any/all prayers answered, and all though it doesn’t say your prayers won’t be answered, it does say your SINS won’t be forgiven, and if my sins aren’t forgiven then I can loop right back up to Psalm 66:18 to see that my prayers won’t get answered either.
Then a final Scripture that immediately comes to mind is:
14-This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15-And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. – 1 John 5 … this verse shows me that I can be asking for things that ARE according to God’s will and therefore implies I may ask for things that are NOT according to God’s will. How about “things” like a mate that God doesn’t want for me, or a job, a house, a ministry, or a position, etc. etc. Getting God’s wisdom on the matters that we are involved in is, therefore, of great importance!
This is a big question, answered quickly and with only a few Scriptures here, so I suggest everyone pray always for wisdom to know God’s will for our lives, pray and read the bible daily to keep ourselves from continually living in a state that is “sinful” in God’s sight, and be quick to love and forgive everybody.
Living correctly before God, with hearts that are open to hear direction and correction from God, will keep us on course and help us to always get our prayers answered. A soft heart of flesh (versus a stoney heart of pride or rebellion) is what God desires … so even if we have wrong motives or if we have fallen into sin or un-forgiveness at times, a heart of flesh that is always looking for answers and purification in the Word, will enable us to hear our Heavenly Father remind us and correct us and lead us.
May you be greatly blessed as you read through this blog S.C. and as you determine to follow God and get to know His answers on matters! Kindly, LeeAnn
Here is an after-thought to my answer:
If any sin, like pride or un-forgiveness, is something that is hindering your prayers there is a very quick and easy remedy to that: GET RID OF IT. Then you can get your prayers answered! Sure it may take some time as you battle these emotional sins / strongholds which are common to mankind, but what is the alternative? Not having your prayers answered and living in a sin that displeases God!
And remember: USE YOUR FAITH as you battle any sin in your life … knowing that your prayers are powerful, you DO have authority over sin and the devil, and that you WILL walk in victory over the sin you are battling! Just Do It! 
We all have these battles in common since we all live in unredeemed, fallen flesh!
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As always, all comments are always welcomed
