3 Answers You Receive In Prayer Even If You Don't Receive the Answer
God may not have given you a visible answer but He is answering every bit of your prayers.
Many years ago, while leading our student fellowship in a prayer session, I made a statement to encourage the people to pray: "Pray since you don't know which of your prayers will be answered."
A more mature leader in the congregation responded, "All our prayers will be answered." His public reproof didn't sit well with me especially because I was the leader of the fellowship but he had to do it so that the wrong concept doesn't spread.
In retrospect, I realised I was wrong, partly because…
…we often think a physical or palpable manifestation is the only way God answers prayers. Our concept of an answer to prayer is often defined in tangible, audible, or visible expressions. We assume God didn't answer simply because there is "no evidence".
This desire is the reason many are giving up on prayer. They quickly say, "God didn't answer my prayer." This is why I am sharing with you today three forms of answers that we always receive even when it seems we didn't receive the answer. These answers are;
Edification
When you pray, you edify yourself especially when you pray in the Holy Spirit or speak in tongues. I Corinthians 14:4 says,
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church" (NKJV).
Greek scholars say a word in the modern vernacular close to the word edify is, "charge," a word used in connection with battery. If a device’s battery runs down, we connect it to a power source and charge it up. So, when you pray, what you do is that you are charging yourself up like a battery by the power of the Holy Spirit. You are building up the battery of your spirit to be equipped to do what you ought to do.
Other Bible translations describe the word, edify as, building up, helping, or improving oneself. In other words, as you pray in the Holy Spirit, something is being built up within you, you are helping and improving yourself. You may not be able to see or quantify it but it is happening and you will know it.
Jude 1:20 specifically commands us to build ourselves up by praying in the Holy Spirit. It says,
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit."
So, in case you cannot identify a specific answer to your prayers yet, know that God has used the prayer time to edify, help, improve, and build you up.
Strength
This is closely connected to edification. When you build up yourself, you are strengthening your spirit. Some Bible translations use the word strength in place of edification. It doesn't matter if there is a physical manifestation of your answer or not, an inner strength is generated when you pray. Isaiah 40:29-31 says,
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Essentially, the way we wait on the Lord is praying. As we pray, God’s word says our strength is renewed. We develop the capacity to fly above situations that stand before us like mountains. We don’t grow weary when we run and we do not faint when we walk.
In another place, God's word says,
"They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion” (Psalms 84:7 NKJV).
You are generating spiritual strength each time you wait on the Lord in prayer. And it is not limited to spiritual strength, you are also being strengthened physically and psychologically.
From experience, I am often more mentally alert and consequently more productive when I do my work after quality time with God in prayer.
Peace
In a world that has become very chaotic, those who make time to pray daily experience internal peace. One of the benefits of prayer is its psychological impact. Prayer improves mental health. If you are worried, restless, or anxious, it is probably because you have not been praying. As someone has rightly said,
"You cannot be praying and worrying just as you cannot be worrying and praying."
The one will prevent or stop the other. Philippians 4:6-7 says,
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" NKJV.
Your heart needs to be at peace to receive the answer God wants to communicate to you. This is why peace is sometimes God's first response to our prayers.
You need not worry anymore that your prayers may not be answered! God may not have given you a visible answer but He is answering every bit of your prayers. He is building you up, strengthening your inner man, and flooding your heart with His peace. He is transforming and preparing you for what He is preparing for you. So, keep at it. Keep sowing because, at the proper time, you will reap it, if you do not lose heart.
My latest book, Alarina, The Go-Between is now available for pre-order.
Alarina is a captivating true story of a young Christian teacher whose life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes a mediator between his student and his wealthy Friend in search of a wife abroad. As the student becomes intrigued by this mysterious Suitor, she is unknowingly drawn into a divine romance with Christ, an experience that will change her life forever.
But this story is not just about one student's journey to faith—it's a powerful reminder that every Christian has a crucial role as a bridge between a world lost in sin and the Saviour. In "Alarina, The Go-Between," you will be swept away by a tale of divine love and redemption that challenges conventional notions of evangelism.
If you are in Nigeria, you can pre-order a hard copy at 1500 NGN and save 25% of the actual price. The preorder comes with bonuses; two of my books,
📌 Why Are Christians Frustrated?
📌 Using Your Daily Devotion the Right Way
And other goodies that comes with the pre-order...
Quickly send the sum of ₦1500 to
Word Bakery Publications
0723928231 Guaranty Trust Bank, or
7818279622 Prospa Capital MFB
Send the proof of payment with your name, email address, and location to Mofesola +234 706 935 7024
You can also pre-order to read the softcopy only on Selar
It will also be available on as paperback on Amazon and as ebook on Kindle
Thank you so much Sir Olufemi. I am so grateful that I got to read this.
Indeed, it is so true that one of the mistakes we Christians make is expecting 'physical evidence'.
There was a time I was not feeling well. I had a bad cough and I just felt so weak. Coincidentally, my devotional, Rhapsody of Realities, that day talked about being invigorated by the Holy Spirit and how when you pray in tongues, you are edified. I began to speak in tongues and gradually, I started charging up. I could literally feel the current flow through my body. That day, that sickness left me.
I enjoyed this read! Thank you!