WILL GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS?

Dearly Beloved,
WILL GOD ANSWER MY PRAYERS?
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him " (1 John 5:14-15 NIV).
As I wanted to sleep recently, I received a message from one of my contacts on WhatsApp asking me whether God would answer his prayer or not. I summarily answered him that God would answer him if what he is requesting is in accordance with the plan of God for him at that particular time. As I also had a prayer request that I have been asking God for my ministry, I pondered on that question: "Will God answer my prayers?" The simple answer to it is YES. However, the affirmative answer is with a condition and may be in various ways.
The condition of answer of God to any prayer request is the will of God. God will not do anything that is contrary to His will. Jesus Christ knew this principle, He taught it in the popular "Lord's Prayer" (see Matthew 6:10), and He applied it in the Garden of Gethsemane when He about to face the cross. He prayed "that if possible the hour might pass from him. 'Abba, Father,' he said, 'everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will'" (Mark 14:35-36 NIV).
Someone has said that God answers our prayers in any of the three ways, vis, yes, no, or wait. God will answer yes to our prayers if the request is perfectly according to His will at that particular time. He may ask us to wait till when He deems it fit for us to have the answer to the request. Likewise, He may answer no to the prayer if the request is NOT according to His will for us.
Examples of this principle abound in the Bible. A classic one was the case of David when he wanted to build a temple for God. God partially answered no to that request but said that David will have to wait till the time of his son before the request will be granted (see 2 Samuel 7).
Getting "Yes" answer to our prayer is lovely. However, when God says "No" or "Wait" to our request, He has something better for us. The reason is, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55: 8-9), and "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'" (Jeremiah 29: 11-12).
It is certain that God will answer our prayers according to His will. Are you ready to accept God's perfect answer to your prayers in His own way and His own time?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
Do you use WhatsApp on your phone or other devices? Add this number +2348138325934 (NOT FOR CALL PLEASE) to your contacts and then inform/invite me through it. You will be added to my WhatsApp contacts. God bless you!

Quote for the Day 30Jun2012

Do not despise what seems weak and insignificant to the world. God can use them to bring down the giants in your life! - Joseph Prince

Quote for the Day 29Jun2012

It is when God speaks to our depths that we are able to touch the lives of others. To refresh others, let us return to the Source of life regularly. - David Roper

Quote for the Day 28Jun2012

God does not remove all of our imperfections, but He makes us beautiful by shining through them. - Author Unknown

Quote for the Day 27Jun2012

God knows us so well that He chooses the perfect time to give us what is best and to send reassurance of His care. — Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 26Jun2012

Many things can set us back in our faith walk. Sometimes they are distractions, such as busyness or even laziness. But sometimes our obstacles stem from our willful nature: self-centeredness, disobedience and even disbelief. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 25Jun2012

The call of God and our response of faith and obedience do not mean that we will never encounter serious problems and trials. - Yinka Ololade

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

Dearly Beloved,
IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL
“But God will rescue me; he will save me from the power of death” (Psalm 49:15 TEV).
The hymn, “It is Well with My Soul” is one of the most popular Christian hymns. Horatio Gates Spafford (1828–1888) composed it. When Spafford was forty-three years old as a Chicago businessman, he suffered financial disaster in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He and his wife were still grieving over the death of their son shortly before the fire, and he realized they needed to get away for a vacation. Knowing that their friend Dwight L. Moody was going to be preaching in evangelistic campaigns in England that fall, Spafford decided to take the entire family to England. His wife and four daughters went ahead by a ship, and he planned to follow in a few days. Nevertheless, on the Atlantic Ocean, an iron sailing vessel struck the ship and the ship sank within twelve minutes. Two hundred and twenty-six lives were lost — including the Spaffords’ four daughters. When the survivors were brought to shore at Cardiff, Wales, Mrs. Anna Spafford cabled her husband with two words: “Saved alone.” Spafford booked passage on the next ship. As they were crossing the Atlantic, the captain pointed out the place where he thought the first ship had gone down. That night, Spafford penned the words of the hymn: “When peace like a river attendeth my way... it is well, it is well with my soul.” Horatio and Anna Spafford later moved to Israel and became channels of God’s blessings to many people there. It was indeed well with their souls.
One of the close associates of Jesus Christ betrayed Him. He was arrested, tried and condemned to die on the cross. He was crucified and died. However, as the Psalmist prophesied in Psalm 49:15, God saved Him from the power of death, and He resurrected on the third day. The suffering and death of Jesus Christ were not pleasant, but He triumphed over everything. Today, His name is exalted above every other name “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11 NIV).
Trial, temptation, hardship, calamity, death of loved one, or anything that happens to us is not the end of the road. No matter what you may be passing through, the Lord will indeed rescue you from all of it and you will join Horatio Spafford to sincerely sing, “It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.” “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5 NIV).
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
NB
1. This message was first sent out on April 4, 2009.
2. Since April 2, 2012, I have started another aspect in my Internet ministry - "Ministering through Daily Hymns" - where I daily send out almost corresponding hymns to my daily quotes (another aspect of the ministry) through Facebook, a weblog, WhatsApp and BlackBerry Messenger. I have just created a Yahoo group where people be receiving a hymn daily by email. So, if you have interest in receiving a hymn daily by email, do any of these three options: a) visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MinisteringthroughDailyHymns/ and join the group; or b) send an empty mail to .

Quote for the Day 23Jun2012

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. - Nelson Mandela

Quote for the Day 22Jun2012

Everything you say and do, is a reflection of the inner you. - Anonymous

Quote for the Day 21Jun2012

Do not build up obstacles in your imagination. Remind yourself that God is with you and that nothing can defeat Him. – Norman Vincent Peale

Quote for the Day 20Jun2012

God tests our faith, character, obedience, love, loyalty and integrity through many of the circumstances we face daily and the choices we make. - Rick Warren

Quote for the Day 19Jun2012

God does not always do what people want Him to do nor does He do it when they want Him to do it, let alone do it how they want Him to do it. - Fred Deegbe

Quote for the Day 18Jun2012

When the journey gets too tough to navigate, we have the help of the One who showed us His power in the resurrection, and who will demonstrate His power again when He raises believing loved ones of all generations to eternal life. That’s a truth we all need as we travel the journey God has for us. - Dave Branon

Quote for the Day 17Jun2012

How responsible are you as a father? Do you care for your children? Are they feeling your fatherly impacts in their lives? An earthly father is the best representation of our heavenly Father. How are you representing God in the lives of your children? Happy Fathers' Day! - Bayo Afolaranmi

HOW RESPONSIBLE ARE YOU?

Dearly Beloved,
HOW RESPONSIBLE ARE YOU?
"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8 NIV).
In many part of the world, the Fathers' Day celebration for this year will be celebrated this week. While I congratulate all fathers throughout the world, I want to ask each one of us that is a father how responsible we are as fathers.
Modern civilization has made many fathers to shun their responsibilities as fathers. Some of such fathers want to have children, but they are not ready to play the fatherly roles in the lives of the children. Some of them do not have the time for their children. The children cannot feel the impacts of such fathers in their lives. Some of such fathers do not want children, but they do not care impregnating careless women. Infidelity to marriage vows in the lives many fathers has been another cause of this. Misplaced priorities may cause this also. Whatever the cause may be, are you as a father responsible?
The Bible is full of how a father can be responsible and take care of his children. He is to instruct them (Proverbs 1:8; 22:6). He is to command them (Proverbs 6:20). He is to guide, encourage, and warn them (Jeremiah 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:11). He is to restrain them in doing nefarious things (1 Samuel 3:13). He is to punish them (Deuteronomy 21:18; Proverbs 23:13-14; 29:17; Hebrews 12:9-11). He is to be considerate of their needs and requests (Matthew 7:10). He should not provoke them, but instead bring them up in God's way (Ephesians 6:4). He is to provide for their needs (1 Timothy 5:8).
How responsible are you as a father? Do you care for your children? Are they feeling your fatherly impacts in their lives? An earthly father is the best representation of our heavenly Father. How are you representing God in the lives of your children? Happy Fathers' Day!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Prayer Point:
While I dedicate this message to responsible fathers worldwide, pray that as God remembered Abraham, Manoah, and Zechariah in the Bible, He will remember the waiting fathers who long to express their fatherly responsibilities to their own children also.

NB
This message was first sent out on June 15, 2008. I am sending it again to commemorate this year's Father's Day and give people that have interest in getting its elaborate version on request. Just write me through spiritualdigest@yahoo.com. God bless you!

Quote for the Day 16Jun2012

God is taking you to a new location where He will do a new thing in your life and give your a new position. - Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 15Jun2012

Most often, we would do better not to say all we think or know (or think we know), but instead seek to use words that promote calm and peace. You never know who may be listening. — Bill Crowder

Quote for the Day 14Jun2012

Do not plan without God. God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the plans we have made, when we have not taken Him into account. - Oswald Chambers

Quote for the Day 13Jun2012

Let us treat others as we would like to be treated, remembering that we don’t always know the burden they may be carrying. — Cindy Hess Kasper

Quote for the Day 12Jun2012

Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. – Orison

Quote for the Day 11Jun2012

Do not limit yourself to a method, expecting only to hear from your Father in predictable ways. Rather, open yourself up to other means by which God wants to commune with you. Allow the Holy Spirit to sensitize you to God’s message at all times, in every location, under any circumstance. Then you will experience God in entirely new dimensions as you are receptive to His voice. - Henry Blackaby

WARN YOUR EYES!

Dearly Beloved,
WARN YOUR EYES!
"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a [lady]" (Job 31:1 TLB).
The world is full of detestable things - things that can drive people away from their Creator. Unfortunately, people are the instruments that the devil is using to propagate these detestable things. Most of these things are what are appealing to the eyes. This was the strategy that the devil used to deceive the first woman, Eve. The Bible says, "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye..." (Genesis 3:6 NIV). Many things, even good things like that forbidden fruit, are pleasing to the eyes, and they have lured people to their destruction. One of such things is the female physical body. Ordinarily, every woman is created to be attractive, but the devil has made many women to use this to mislead men, especially men that are not careful. Most women have turned their physical bodies to tools in the hands of the devil to ruin men. Some of them are doing this deliberately while others are doing it unconsciously. This has made many men to look lustfully at women even at times involuntarily. As if Job had known the teachings of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5:28 "that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (NIV), Job made a covenant with his eyes not to look at women with lust (see Job 31:1, 9). In order words, he had warned his eyes on what to look at.
That resolution will be a good one for any man. A man should warn his eyes not to look lustfully at women no matter how tempting they may be. This warning has to be extended to what type of book to read and (especially in this era of the Internet) what to look at on the Internet. Women also should resolve not to make themselves a ready tool in the hands of the devil to lure men into lust.
Either man or woman, we have to decide like Job to live against lust and anything that has to do with it because: it is a sin (Matthew 5:27-30); it is dangerous (Proverbs 6:25-29); it is contrary to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18); it hinders prayer (James 4:2-5); and it will pass away (1 John 2:15-17). We can only live in dominion over lust and anything that can cause it through the power of the Holy Spirit by: self-determination (Job 31:1); self-crucifixion (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:12-13); and the grace of God (Titus 2:12).
Do not let what or who you behold lure you away from your God. Warn your eyes and your behaviours!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 09Jun2012

Undertake something difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. - Ronald E. Osborn

Quote for the Day 08Jun2012

Who lives alone dies alone. No one can live alone and be normal. Living alone makes one grows nastically. We should learn to tolerate one another. - Abel Asubiaro

Quote for the Day 07Jun2012

God needs a vessel He can lavish grace upon. Will you be the available vessel the Lord can pour out His Spirit? Your standing in Him will determine whether you will qualified for the anointing or not. Seek Him in earnest until He releases His anointing upon you in power. - Nathaniel Tade Obaniyi

Quote for the Day 06Jun2012

No one can stand alone. We are planted into community groups such as family, friends, churches and fellowship and so on so we can give help and receive help. - Matthew Awujoola

Quote for the Day 05Jun2012

Do you see yourself as an anointed vessel of God? In what ways are you also failing God? Endeavour to make yourself a noble anointed vessel that will serve God creditably. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 04Jun2012

The benefit of our collective anointing in the church is for believers to be able to find their usefulness in making the kingdom of world the kingdom of our God and His Christ. - Emmanuel Oloruntoba Arotile

YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND STILL BE HONEST

Dearly Beloved,
YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND STILL BE HONEST
"The other men tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king. But they could not accuse him of anything wrong, because he was honest and faithful and did everything he was supposed to do" (Daniel 6:4 CEV).
There was a chat that ensued between one of my BlackBerry contacts and me. The person wanted to know if one can be successful in life without being dubious (in character). I answered in the affirmative. He wondered how that can be so and wanted me to prove it to him. I explained to him that the Holy Bible teaches honesty and that there were many honest people in the Bible who were also successful in life. I even used my life as an example. He did not believe me. He even accused me of boasting.
If one considers what are happening in the world nowadays, especially in Nigeria, one would think that only dishonest people can succeed in life. Examination malpractices are so common among students that examination bodies are having difficulties in curbing them. Many parents are even helping their children in these nefarious activities! Politics or rather the politicians are so dirty that righteous people would think twice before joining them, and where you find anyone who wants to be righteous or just in politics, such a person would be frustrated out of the system. Bribery and corruption in all ramifications have been institutionalized in public and private sectors. Even religious institutions are not left out in these acts of dishonesty! Indeed, it is very difficult to find honest men and women in the society. The situation of Nigeria is like the one that Prophet Isaiah described, "Justice is driven away, and right cannot come near. Truth stumbles in the public square, and honesty finds no place there. There is so little honesty that anyone who stops doing evil finds himself the victim of crime" (Isaiah 59:14-15 TEV). No wonder, many young people think (like that BlackBerry contact) that you cannot be honest and be successful.
When Elijah thought there was no more people serving God in the days of King Ahab, God told him that he had "reserved SEVEN THOUSAND in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him" (1 Kings 19:18 NKJV emphasis mine). In spite of all the decadence in Nigeria, there are people who are honest and are still successful in the country. There are people that God can still vouch for. Are you one of such people? It was very difficult to find any fault or corrupt practice in Daniel, even at his high-ranking position (see Daniel 6:4). How honest are you in your position? Are you also of the opinion that you cannot be successful with honesty?
You can indeed be successful and still be honest!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 02Jun2012

We can be so blind to our own faults, but think we can detect the slightest inconsistency in others. We carry two measuring sticks: one for ourselves, and one for others. Let's be aware of critical attitudes, because it not only blinds us to our own faults, but also has a way of backfiring. - Diann L. White