There is a true story about a Christian man who had an illness. He prayed to God once to take it away, but God remained silent. Again he prayed and asked God to heal Him, but God did not. Remembering that Jesus said to pray with persistence (Luke 18), he prayed a third time to God. Still, the Lord did not remove this illness from him. This man remained unhealed. Here’s a question that you should think about for a minute: what was this man’s problem? If Jesus said that whatever we ask for in His name we will receive (John 16:23) then why was this man’s petition not granted? Take a moment (before reading on) and see if you can answer to yourself why this man remained unhealed.
Did he not spend enough time praying for it?
Did he not have enough faith?
Was he not spiritual enough?
Did his sins prevent God from hearing him?
None of these are the answer. How do we know that? The reason is because this man was the apostle Paul:
"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2Co 12:7-9)
The reason why God left Paul unhealed is so that it would keep him from pride (v. 7) and that the power of Jesus would be made perfect in him (v 9).
Paul was content when he got an answer from God. He pushed the Lord no further for his request. Unlike Paul’s attitude, the primary misconception about faith and prayer in Christians today is that faith and prayer exist mainly for man to obtain and accomplish his own will. In other words, “the reason I pray and exercise my faith is because God will give me what I want.” This is the height of foolishness, pride, and greed. Paul was mature enough to accept the Lord’s answer. He did not throw a tantrum when the Lord said “no.” He did not press the Lord any further. He did not get angry, he did not ask others to pray for it and he did not question his own spirituality.
Unfortunately many portions of Christendom today preach a gospel that says, “Come to Jesus so that you can get something for yourself.” The words are a bit more subtle than that, though. Perhaps you’ve heard, “accept Jesus so you can go to Heaven,” “Exercise your faith and God will grant you financial freedom”, “Declare a blessing in your life in the name of Jesus”, or “God wants to heal you of your diseases.” This is what the bible has to say about this type of gospel:
"You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it upon your lusts." (Jam 4:3)
The supreme Christian life doesn’t come until we die to what we want (our own will), and like Jesus we can say, “My goal isn’t to get what I want, but to accomplish what God wants.” This was Jesus’ goal:
"For I came down from Heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me." (Joh 6:38)
The most powerful prayer you can pray is not “my will be done”, but “thy will be done.” God wants us to come to Him with our desires. But when He says no, He doesn’t want to see a tantrum! With regard to our earthly desires, we must pray like this: “Father, this is what I desire. Nevertheless if you do not want it for me, that’s okay too. I’m content with your will.” This is the prayer that our Lord Jesus Himself prayed at Gethsemane:
"Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luk 22:42)
It’s not wrong to have your own desires, but when God says “no”, you must crucify those desires. Live to please God, not to gain something for yourself.
“Selfishness is no less evident in prayer than in other areas” – Watchman Nee