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<strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> Radio <strong>Transcript</strong><br />
Series: Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayers?<br />
<strong>Program</strong> Title: Are You Remembering <strong>to</strong> Ask?<br />
Dr. Woodrow Kroll<br />
April 25, 2011<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Have you ever wondered: Why doesn't God answer my<br />
prayers?<br />
Tami Weissert: If so, <strong>the</strong>n stick around and find out what gets in <strong>the</strong> way.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: We'll uncover several reasons why God may not answer<br />
your prayers. Some of <strong>the</strong>m may surprise you. Hi, I'm Woodrow Kroll.<br />
Tami Weissert: I'm Tami Weissert.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: And this is <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Tami Weissert: Welcome. This week it's all about prayer here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>. Wood, you're building our series around a very important<br />
question.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Yes, Tami, I think it's a question most of us have asked a<br />
time or two: "Why doesn't God answer my prayers?" You and I pray, and<br />
sometimes God seems <strong>to</strong> do nothing. So <strong>to</strong>day we're looking at Why? And<br />
what gets in our way when we pray?<br />
Tami Weissert: You're starting <strong>to</strong>day with <strong>the</strong> one reason that's almost <strong>to</strong>o<br />
obvious.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: It's pretty simple; but if God isn't answering your prayer,<br />
did you remember <strong>to</strong> ask Him? We'll see how that works out <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
Tami Weissert: Let's start with some basic things we need <strong>to</strong> know about<br />
prayer. Here's Dr. Kroll with our <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> study.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Let's think about some of <strong>the</strong> reasons why <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> says<br />
God may not answer our prayers.<br />
First of all, I think it's important for each of us <strong>to</strong> recognize that <strong>the</strong>re are<br />
times when God says, "Don't pray, I'm not listening."<br />
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Ever since I've been knee high <strong>to</strong> a hiccup, I've been hearing people say <strong>to</strong><br />
me: "God always answers our prayers; sometimes He says 'Yes'; sometimes<br />
He says 'No'; sometimes He says 'Maybe,' but He always answers our<br />
prayers."<br />
I believed that until I started <strong>to</strong> read <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> and I found out that <strong>the</strong>re are<br />
places in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> where God says, "No, you're not ready <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong> Me, so<br />
I'm not ready <strong>to</strong> answer you."<br />
Let's consider, <strong>to</strong>day, some of <strong>the</strong> things that might get in our way, some of<br />
<strong>the</strong> barriers that might get in your way <strong>to</strong> your prayer life.<br />
The first one is this (it seems so easy; it seems so normal; it seems so down<br />
<strong>to</strong> earth, but it's one of <strong>the</strong> real reasons why we don't get answers <strong>to</strong> our<br />
prayers): We forget <strong>to</strong> ask.<br />
We just forget <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong> God.<br />
You have <strong>to</strong> ask yourself a question: "Am I remembering <strong>to</strong> ask God for <strong>the</strong><br />
things I need? Or am I just going on my way in life and trying <strong>to</strong> work it out<br />
all by myself?"<br />
The folks at <strong>the</strong> Barna Group say that most Americans do pray. In fact, 82<br />
percent of Americans say that <strong>the</strong>y pray <strong>to</strong> God. But when you pin down a<br />
person, when you ask <strong>the</strong>m: "Tell me about your prayer life," <strong>the</strong>ir prayers<br />
<strong>to</strong> God tend <strong>to</strong> be a thanks before meal (Grace), maybe a prayer at night; or<br />
if <strong>the</strong>y're in deep trouble, that's when <strong>the</strong>y pray <strong>to</strong> God. A general<br />
conversation (a normal daily conversation) with God is <strong>to</strong>tally out of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
purview at all. They just don't ever really understand that <strong>the</strong>y should do<br />
that.<br />
For me, I have <strong>to</strong> say <strong>to</strong> myself, "OK, when I talk <strong>to</strong> God, am I being specific<br />
about <strong>the</strong> things that I need? Am I remembering <strong>to</strong> ask God for <strong>the</strong> things I<br />
need?"<br />
Let me take you <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Word <strong>to</strong>day, because <strong>the</strong>re are just some very<br />
pointed references in Scripture. Jesus says some of <strong>the</strong>m. The Apostle James<br />
says one of <strong>the</strong>m. James 4:2 talks about <strong>the</strong> very issue of forgetting <strong>to</strong> ask<br />
God. He says: "You have not, because you do not ask God" (paraphrase).<br />
That's about as simple as it can get. One of <strong>the</strong> reasons why we don't have<br />
what we think we need is because we fail <strong>to</strong> take it up with God. Sometimes<br />
<strong>the</strong> silence of heaven follows our own silence.<br />
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If God chooses not <strong>to</strong> answer our prayers because we ask for <strong>the</strong> wrong<br />
thing (we're going <strong>to</strong> discuss that in a couple of days); if God chooses not <strong>to</strong><br />
respond <strong>to</strong> us because we're asking for <strong>the</strong> wrong things, that is very, very<br />
different from God not responding because we haven't asked at all.<br />
Let me encourage you when you have needs <strong>to</strong> make note of those needs.<br />
The silence of heaven follows our silence. Wasn't it Billy Graham who said,<br />
"Heaven is full of answers <strong>to</strong> prayers for which no one has ever bo<strong>the</strong>red <strong>to</strong><br />
ask"? If we don't ask, we don't receive.<br />
Do you remember Hezekiah, one of <strong>the</strong> kings of Judah? The <strong>Bible</strong> records<br />
one of his prayers, and it's a great prayer. He had a specific list of requests<br />
<strong>to</strong> bring <strong>to</strong> God, and with good reason. Hezekiah was a man who was in<br />
deep trouble. The armies of Sennacherib had completely surrounded <strong>the</strong> city<br />
of Jerusalem. And Hezekiah, as soon as he found out that he was in trouble,<br />
went <strong>to</strong> God immediately and prayed <strong>to</strong> God. But while he prayed <strong>the</strong> kind of<br />
prayer we all need <strong>to</strong> pray (that is, he was very reverent <strong>to</strong> God up front, he<br />
spoke about God being <strong>the</strong> God who dwells between <strong>the</strong> cherubim, <strong>the</strong> only<br />
God that <strong>the</strong>re really is), never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong>re was a point at which he<br />
became very specific.<br />
I think we can allay any fears we have of constantly coming <strong>to</strong> God and just<br />
dropping off our requests at His door if we make prayer more than a<br />
shopping list. Prayer can never be just a shopping list: "God I need this and<br />
I need that, and Wilma is sick and, You know, Uncle John is in prison . . .,"<br />
just all <strong>the</strong> normal things of life. Those are important <strong>to</strong> us, but that's not<br />
<strong>the</strong> substance of prayer.<br />
Tami Weissert: We're talking about prayer <strong>to</strong>day with <strong>Bible</strong> Teacher<br />
Woodrow Kroll here on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Wood, you just said that prayer can never be only a shopping list. But we<br />
can have, and should have, a specific request. So how do we keep from<br />
crossing <strong>the</strong> line from genuine requests in<strong>to</strong> that shopping list category?<br />
Woodrow Kroll: That's a good question. It's good <strong>to</strong> take a list with you <strong>to</strong><br />
prayer. I always do that, because my mind doesn't always remember <strong>the</strong><br />
things I want <strong>to</strong> talk <strong>to</strong> God about. Or sometimes my mind tends <strong>to</strong> wander<br />
in prayer.<br />
Lists are good. But let's distinguish between shopping lists and prayer lists.<br />
Shopping lists are <strong>the</strong> things we want. We don't know if God would be<br />
pleased, but we say <strong>to</strong> ourselves, "Hey, why not take a shot?" That's a<br />
shopping list.<br />
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Those things on a prayer list are genuine needs that have been impressed<br />
on our minds that we know we have <strong>to</strong> take <strong>to</strong> God. We just have <strong>to</strong> find<br />
that delicate balance between saying, "Lord, I'm here again and here's <strong>the</strong><br />
stuff I want," and forgetting <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> Him entirely because we're working out<br />
our problems all by ourselves.<br />
Tami Weissert: Wood, you've been talking about how we forget <strong>to</strong> put our<br />
requests before God. What about when we neglect <strong>to</strong> ask because we think<br />
that our need is <strong>to</strong>o small, or kind of silly, or we shouldn't even be putting it<br />
before God? Does God really want us <strong>to</strong> bring everything <strong>to</strong> Him?<br />
Woodrow Kroll: When my children were small, <strong>the</strong>y came <strong>to</strong> ask me for<br />
something that <strong>the</strong>y really wanted. And I would say <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, "Is what you're<br />
going <strong>to</strong> ask me really silly?" Mostly <strong>the</strong>y would say "No," with a great deal<br />
of passion. Sometimes, however, <strong>the</strong>y would say "Maybe a little." My<br />
response would always be, "If you can come <strong>to</strong> me <strong>to</strong> ask something of me,<br />
don't you think I should be <strong>the</strong> one <strong>to</strong> determine whe<strong>the</strong>r or not it's silly."<br />
They always agreed.<br />
That's <strong>the</strong> way it is with God. Let all your requests be made known <strong>to</strong> God,<br />
and trust Him <strong>to</strong> sort out <strong>the</strong> ones that are legitimate.<br />
Tami Weissert: At <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> we're excited about bringing you <strong>Bible</strong><br />
teaching <strong>to</strong> help you understand God's Word and grow spiritually. But as<br />
we've heard, <strong>the</strong>re's ano<strong>the</strong>r aspect of our spiritual life that's important, and<br />
that's prayer: Talking <strong>to</strong> God, getting <strong>to</strong> know Him better, pouring our hearts<br />
out <strong>to</strong> Him, and seeking His will and making our needs known. That's all part<br />
of prayer. And we want <strong>to</strong> be part of your experience with prayer <strong>to</strong>o. If<br />
<strong>the</strong>re's something you would like us <strong>to</strong> pray about with you, any special<br />
request you have, <strong>the</strong>n go <strong>to</strong> back<strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong>bible.org and click on <strong>the</strong> "Prayer<br />
Request" but<strong>to</strong>n on <strong>the</strong> Home Page. It's easy <strong>to</strong> submit your request, and<br />
you can be confident that we will pray for you. The Prayer Page also gives<br />
you an opportunity <strong>to</strong> pray for us, with updates on our ministry and prayer<br />
needs. That's <strong>the</strong> new Prayer Request Page at back<strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong>bible.org. Or in<br />
Canada: back<strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong>bible.ca. Check it out <strong>to</strong>day.<br />
Why should we bo<strong>the</strong>r asking God for something when He already knows<br />
what we need? That's <strong>the</strong> question Woodrow Kroll answers as we continue<br />
<strong>to</strong>day's study on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: Have you wondered, "Why do we ask when God already<br />
knows?"<br />
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As a parent, you enjoy having your kids come <strong>to</strong> you and <strong>to</strong> talk with you.<br />
They may want something, <strong>to</strong>o, but <strong>the</strong>y also want <strong>to</strong> spend time with you.<br />
And <strong>the</strong>y just want <strong>to</strong> talk.<br />
If we only go <strong>to</strong> God when we want something, we're kind of like a kid who<br />
is very greedy, very self-centered, and we don't want <strong>to</strong> be like that. It's like<br />
<strong>the</strong> little girl in church who said <strong>to</strong> her mo<strong>the</strong>r, "I think everybody in heaven<br />
thinks I'm dead." Her mo<strong>the</strong>r said, "Why on earth would you say that?" She<br />
said, "I haven't prayed in a week."<br />
We go <strong>to</strong> God frequently. Constantly we are before <strong>the</strong> Lord God. And we do<br />
that specifically because we want God <strong>to</strong> be our closest Friend. The way we<br />
become His friend is through <strong>the</strong> Word and in prayer. If we forget <strong>to</strong> ask for<br />
<strong>the</strong> things we need, let's not blame God that He didn't do for us what we<br />
needed <strong>to</strong> be done, because <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> clearly says, "You do not have<br />
because you do not ask."<br />
F. B. Meyer, one of <strong>the</strong> great <strong>Bible</strong> teachers of years gone by said, "The<br />
great tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer." That<br />
we fail <strong>to</strong> take our needs <strong>to</strong> God. That can be just a little prayer that comes<br />
<strong>to</strong> our minds or a little need that comes <strong>to</strong> our minds. But at o<strong>the</strong>r times, it<br />
needs <strong>to</strong> be a time when we sit down and have absolute silence before <strong>the</strong><br />
world and silence before everyone else. We shut everybody else out, and we<br />
just pour out our spirit <strong>to</strong> God.<br />
I remember Calvin Miller wrote a little ditty one time in a book called The<br />
Table of Inwardness. Listen <strong>to</strong> this:<br />
"We mutter and sputter,<br />
We fume and we spurt.<br />
We mumble and grumble.<br />
Our feelings get hurt.<br />
We can't understand things.<br />
Our vision grows dim.<br />
When all that we need<br />
Is a moment with Him."<br />
It's taking that time <strong>to</strong> spend with God that allows us <strong>to</strong> have a feeling that<br />
we've done what God has asked us <strong>to</strong> do. We've come before Him, and<br />
we've come before Him in a way that pleases Him, and we've left our<br />
requests behind.<br />
If He chooses <strong>to</strong> answer <strong>the</strong>m, that's His business. But we have done what<br />
God asked us <strong>to</strong> do. That is <strong>to</strong> communicate with Him, <strong>to</strong> be <strong>the</strong>re with Him,<br />
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<strong>to</strong> make sure that we're doing <strong>the</strong> right things in order for God <strong>to</strong> answer our<br />
prayers.<br />
If you don't ask, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> says you don't receive. Just because you ask<br />
doesn't necessarily mean you're going <strong>to</strong> receive. But God wants us <strong>to</strong> be on<br />
speaking terms with Him in such a way that we come before Him and we can<br />
ask.<br />
What are <strong>the</strong> reasons why God doesn't answer our prayers? What are <strong>the</strong><br />
roadblocks that you and I often set up that keep God from answering our<br />
prayers?<br />
I think <strong>the</strong> very first roadblock is <strong>the</strong> most obvious. And that is: We just<br />
don't ask. We fail <strong>to</strong> ask. If you don't remember <strong>to</strong> ask God for what you<br />
need, don't blame Him for not supplying what you forgot <strong>to</strong> ask about.<br />
That's one of <strong>the</strong> roadblocks.<br />
The second reason that God does not answer our prayers is far more<br />
difficult. That is: Do we have sin in our lives that would keep us from getting<br />
through <strong>to</strong> God? The question is this: Am I cherishing sin more than I<br />
cherish God?<br />
This is a difficult question for us <strong>to</strong> ask because we don't always know <strong>the</strong><br />
answer <strong>to</strong> this. But I want <strong>to</strong> tell you who does: God does. If we put up a<br />
roadblock of sin before us, if <strong>the</strong>re is sin in our pathway that keeps us from<br />
getting <strong>to</strong> God, one of <strong>the</strong> reasons why God doesn't answer is that we<br />
haven't gotten through because of our own sin. The <strong>Bible</strong> is extremely clear<br />
about this.<br />
Listen <strong>to</strong> Psalm 66:18: "If I had cherished sin in my heart, <strong>the</strong> Lord would<br />
not have listened <strong>to</strong> me. If I regard iniquity in my heart, <strong>the</strong> Lord will not<br />
hear me."<br />
I don't know of anything clearer in <strong>the</strong> English language than that. When<br />
people say, "God always hears my prayers," I say <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, "Does that mean<br />
you have never sinned?" Because <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> clearly says that if I sin and that<br />
sin isn't taken care of, <strong>the</strong>n God will not hear me because of that sin. That is<br />
a roadblock <strong>to</strong> me, and I need <strong>to</strong> deal with that roadblock.<br />
Sometimes, we cherish sin because, frankly, we aren't quite ready <strong>to</strong> pray.<br />
When Jesus says that everyone who asks will receive, He is assuming that<br />
those who pray are His disciples who are right with God and not cherishing<br />
iniquity. And, <strong>the</strong>refore, God can respond <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. It's not that we simply go<br />
<strong>to</strong> God and ask and it's an au<strong>to</strong>matic "Yes" or an au<strong>to</strong>matic "No." Sometimes<br />
6
we go <strong>to</strong> God and our prayers don't get <strong>to</strong> heaven because sin blocks <strong>the</strong>m<br />
on <strong>the</strong> way.<br />
What does <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> have <strong>to</strong> say about this? Well, let's read some things,<br />
starting with Isaiah 59:1-2: "Behold, <strong>the</strong> LORD'S hand is not shortened, that<br />
it cannot save; nor His ear dull, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have<br />
made a separation between you and your God; and your sins have hidden<br />
His face from you, so that He does not hear."<br />
That's pretty direct, isn't it? It's not that <strong>the</strong> Lord can't hear us; He can<br />
always hear us. The question is: Does God hear my prayers? Yes, He does.<br />
Does He always respond <strong>to</strong> my prayers? No, He doesn't, because sometimes<br />
we separate ourselves from God by our own sin. If we don't deal with sin,<br />
<strong>the</strong>n God doesn't respond <strong>to</strong> our prayers. It's not a problem with His<br />
hearing. It's a problem with our sin.<br />
Before I say <strong>to</strong> God, "Oh, <strong>the</strong>re's a need and I have <strong>to</strong> come <strong>to</strong> You with this<br />
need," I just need <strong>to</strong> constantly be keeping short accounts with God, making<br />
sure that when I know things that enter my life that are not supposed <strong>to</strong> be<br />
<strong>the</strong>re that I deal with those on <strong>the</strong> spot. I don't wait until <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> day.<br />
I don't build a list of sins that I have <strong>to</strong> confess before I go <strong>to</strong> prayer. I deal<br />
with those along <strong>the</strong> way.<br />
I want <strong>to</strong> zip up a prayer <strong>to</strong> God. "Whisper a prayer" <strong>to</strong> God, as <strong>the</strong> old song<br />
says. I'm ready <strong>to</strong> do that. But I have <strong>to</strong> constantly keep myself ready <strong>to</strong> do<br />
that. The only way I can do that is <strong>to</strong> constantly be keeping short accounts<br />
with God.<br />
We're talking about cherishing sin more than we cherish God. What is it that<br />
would keep God from hearing and responding <strong>to</strong> our prayers? Look at Psalm<br />
24:1-4: "The earth is <strong>the</strong> LORD'S, and <strong>the</strong> fullness <strong>the</strong>reof, <strong>the</strong> world, and<br />
those who dwell <strong>the</strong>rein. For He founded it upon <strong>the</strong> seas, and established it<br />
upon <strong>the</strong> rivers. Who shall ascend <strong>the</strong> hill of <strong>the</strong> LORD? And who shall stand<br />
in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not<br />
lift up his soul <strong>to</strong> what is false and does not swear deceitfully."<br />
The whole issue of clean hands and a pure heart is something we talk about<br />
a lot here at <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong>. I think <strong>the</strong> reason is that it's evident from<br />
reading God's Word that we just don't have a free pass <strong>to</strong> God, that we can't<br />
say, "OK, I'm saved now. I've been justified by His blood. I have access <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Fa<strong>the</strong>r. Therefore, even if <strong>the</strong>re's a wreck on <strong>the</strong> highway, I can get<br />
around it and get <strong>to</strong> God." That just isn't <strong>the</strong> case.<br />
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Access means I have free access <strong>to</strong> God. I have open access <strong>to</strong> God. But<br />
sometimes I put up my own barricades. One of <strong>the</strong> barricades I often put up<br />
is just <strong>the</strong> barricade of my own sin. I can't get around it. I can't get under it.<br />
I can't get over it. I can't go through it. The only thing I can do is have God<br />
remove it.<br />
If we want <strong>to</strong> stand before <strong>the</strong> Lord God (and that's ano<strong>the</strong>r way of talking<br />
about coming in<strong>to</strong> His presence, like prayer is coming in<strong>to</strong> His presence), if<br />
we want <strong>to</strong> do that, <strong>the</strong>n we have <strong>to</strong> have clean hands and a pure heart.<br />
We don't always have clean hands and a pure heart, isn't that true? That's<br />
why it's important for us <strong>to</strong> unburden ourselves of <strong>the</strong> barricades of sin<br />
before we get in<strong>to</strong> serious prayer with God. Take <strong>the</strong> time <strong>to</strong> confess what<br />
you know <strong>to</strong> be wrong in your life before you talk <strong>to</strong> God.<br />
That's sometimes not easy <strong>to</strong> do because something will come up that you<br />
need <strong>to</strong> address immediately. But you can always go back <strong>to</strong> God and say,<br />
"Lord, I wasn't ready for that prayer, and I want <strong>to</strong> get ready now."<br />
It's one of <strong>the</strong> cus<strong>to</strong>ms of <strong>the</strong> Christian church, in America at least, for <strong>the</strong><br />
pas<strong>to</strong>r (if he recognizes someone in <strong>the</strong> congregation) <strong>to</strong> call on that person<br />
<strong>to</strong> pray, especially if it's a visiting dignitary or ano<strong>the</strong>r pas<strong>to</strong>r or someone<br />
like that.<br />
I remember in church one time, <strong>the</strong> pas<strong>to</strong>r spotting ano<strong>the</strong>r minister in <strong>the</strong><br />
audience and instead of saying, "Would you pray?" he said, "Are you ready<br />
<strong>to</strong> pray?"<br />
I thought: Now that's a strange expression, "Are you ready <strong>to</strong> pray?" What<br />
he meant was, "Are you in a position that if I call on you <strong>to</strong> pray you can<br />
actually talk <strong>to</strong> God and get through. Are you cherishing sin in your life more<br />
than you cherish God? Are you willing <strong>to</strong> give up what is in your life that isn't<br />
supposed <strong>to</strong> be <strong>the</strong>re so that you can have an absolutely clear channel <strong>to</strong><br />
God?"<br />
We always know <strong>the</strong>re are things we've done wrong, even if we can't<br />
specifically put our finger on <strong>the</strong>m. If we can, however, put our finger on it,<br />
we dare not cover it over with a blanket. Why? Proverbs 28:13: "He who<br />
covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes <strong>the</strong>m<br />
will have mercy."<br />
I can't know in my own mind that <strong>the</strong>re is something wrong in my life and<br />
just go <strong>to</strong> God and say, "God's going <strong>to</strong> overlook this because He is a<br />
gracious God."<br />
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I don't like <strong>to</strong> talk about sin in my life any more than you like <strong>to</strong> talk about<br />
sin in yours. We're not really talking so much about sin <strong>to</strong>day as we're<br />
talking about God answering our prayers. I think it would be wrong for us <strong>to</strong><br />
believe that every time we shoot up a prayer <strong>to</strong> God, He's just sitting <strong>the</strong>re<br />
waiting, begging <strong>to</strong> hear from us, and He's going <strong>to</strong> answer that prayer.<br />
That's not what <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> says.<br />
Today, we've looked at two of <strong>the</strong> barriers, two barricades, two reasons why<br />
God may not answer our prayers. Number one is that sometimes we just<br />
simply forget <strong>to</strong> ask. If we do not ask, we do not receive.<br />
But even a more serious one than that is: Sometimes we ask and we aren't<br />
prepared <strong>to</strong> ask, because <strong>the</strong>re is something in our lives that we know ought<br />
not be <strong>the</strong>re. As a result of that, cherishing that sin means <strong>to</strong> God we have<br />
cherished our sin more than we have cherished Him. And unless we remove<br />
that from our lives, we are not going <strong>to</strong> get answers <strong>to</strong> our prayers.<br />
Tami Weissert: Thanks for joining us for <strong>to</strong>day's <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> study<br />
with Woodrow Kroll.<br />
Wood, you talked about two steps <strong>to</strong> answered prayer. The first is <strong>to</strong> ask.<br />
The second step is <strong>to</strong> make sure we're clean before God and not hanging on<br />
<strong>to</strong> sin. So, if we do <strong>the</strong>se two things, should we expect <strong>to</strong> get an answer <strong>to</strong><br />
our prayer?<br />
Woodrow Kroll: It's a start. Look, what we're doing on <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong><br />
this week is: We are weeding out all those things that hinder our prayers.<br />
We are eliminating things that get in <strong>the</strong> way of God answering us. As you<br />
say, we have seen two <strong>to</strong>day: Forgetting <strong>to</strong> ask, and not being clean and<br />
pure in heart and hand. But <strong>the</strong>re is more. We can take care of <strong>the</strong>se things<br />
and still have huge hurdles in our way <strong>to</strong> getting God <strong>to</strong> answer our prayers.<br />
We're going <strong>to</strong> press on <strong>to</strong>morrow.<br />
Tami Weissert: People need <strong>to</strong> tune in <strong>the</strong> rest of <strong>the</strong> week and get <strong>the</strong>m<br />
all.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: There's a lot <strong>to</strong> be said about why God doesn't answer<br />
prayer. We've only said two things so far.<br />
Tami Weissert: Wood, how do we respond <strong>to</strong> someone who tells us <strong>the</strong>y've<br />
given up on God or <strong>the</strong>y don't believe He exists because <strong>the</strong>y tried <strong>to</strong> pray;<br />
<strong>the</strong>y didn't get any answers?<br />
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Woodrow Kroll: Generally that happens when <strong>the</strong>y aren't willing <strong>to</strong> take a<br />
hard look at <strong>the</strong>mselves. It's <strong>the</strong> things we're going <strong>to</strong> be talking about all<br />
this week that keep God from answering our prayers. People who give up on<br />
God have nowhere else <strong>to</strong> go. People who don't completely understand why<br />
God hasn't answered <strong>the</strong>m, but <strong>the</strong>y still believe in Him, <strong>the</strong>y at least have<br />
something <strong>to</strong> hold on <strong>to</strong> and hope. They can hope in Him. They have found<br />
in Him <strong>the</strong> best possible place <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> get <strong>the</strong>ir prayers answered.<br />
Tami Weissert: You talked about not being willing <strong>to</strong> take a hard look.<br />
Describe a "hard look" for us.<br />
Woodrow Kroll: I think we have <strong>to</strong> be honest with ourselves. We have <strong>to</strong><br />
ask hard questions, like "What's my motivation in asking for this? Why do I<br />
really want God <strong>to</strong> do this? Do I think God will be pleased when I ask Him<br />
for this?" If we take a hard look and we don't have good answers <strong>to</strong> those<br />
questions, I think we're wasting our time in prayer.<br />
Tami Weissert: Forgetting <strong>to</strong> ask. Unconfessed sin. Wood, I like that you<br />
are calling <strong>the</strong>se "Roadblocks <strong>to</strong> Prayer," because roadblocks usually aren't<br />
permanent; <strong>the</strong>y can be moved. What is <strong>the</strong> next roadblock?<br />
Woodrow Kroll: It's a big one. It's a significant one: Are we treating God<br />
well enough for Him <strong>to</strong> answer my prayers? If you've never thought of that<br />
as a hindrance before, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> has something definite <strong>to</strong> say about that.<br />
We'll explore it <strong>to</strong>morrow.<br />
We've come <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> end of ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>Back</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> program <strong>to</strong>day. I'll be<br />
here, Tami will be here, and we pray that you will be here as well as we<br />
continue our study in "Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayers?" Between now<br />
and <strong>the</strong>n, why not read some of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bible</strong> for yourself? Maybe reread <strong>the</strong><br />
passages we focused on <strong>to</strong>day. See what else God has <strong>to</strong> teach you.<br />
Thanks for dropping by. I'm Woodrow Kroll. Have a good and godly day.<br />
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