Do you feel like your prayers aren't getting answered?

Do you feel like your prayers aren't getting answered and you're begging God to tell you what's wrong? I think this happens to all of us.

Take a look at this biblical promise from Jesus.

John 10:10 - The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Jesus says He came so we'd enjoy life, have it abundantly, to the full, even overflowing.  

If this is true, why are so many believers experiencing so much lack in their lives? Why are so many of our prayers not getting answered?

The first part of the scripture tells us. It says the thief, satan, comes ONLY to steal, kill and destroy. So what does He steal?

What He comes to steal is the Word of God from your life. Jesus lays this out for us in Mark 4, The Parable of the Sower. In fact, in Mark 4:11 Jesus says this is the secret to the Kingdom of God.

Sorta important right?

Jesus lays out three traps that we fall into where satan steals God's promises from us.

Trap #1: He says some people hear a biblical promise and satan immediately steals it from them. (vs 14)

Trap #2: Others hear a biblical promise and receive it with joy, but when trouble comes, because of the Word, they quickly fall away. (vs. 16)

Trap #3: This person hears the Word, but the worries of life, the deceitfulness of pursuing wealth, or the desires for other things ... choke the Word of God making it unfruitful. (vs. 18)

If you are spending a lot of time in doubt, worry or fear, you are actually choking off God's blessings into your life.

God has had to remind me of this many times. It always starts with me pondering some troubling circumstances. Instead of me focusing on how big my God is, I begin centering my focus on the size of the mountains.

> Doubt leads to fear
> Fear leads to worry
> Worry leads to discouragement
> Discouragement leads to depression
> Depression leads to failure

This is exactly how satan will steal your future from you. When we end up having more faith in His lies than God's promises. 

James 1:6-7 NIV -  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

There's rarely a victory without a battle, so allow me to share with you how to conquer doubt, worry, and fear.

First, find a few biblical promises that you will use for your prayer foundation. Yup, build a case. When I pray, I write my prayers down and load them up with biblical promises. These are the promises I will stand on.

1. I meditate on (ponder - think about)  the promises
2. I receive them by faith
3. I pray to God about them. ("Lord, Your Word say in ....")
4. I speak them (I speak what's in my heart)
5. I declare them over my situation

Mark 11:22-24 NIV - “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

When I do this, my faith grows, exponentially. 

> Faith leads to the expectation God will make good on His promises
> Expectation leads to a peace that passes all understanding
> Peace leads to a desire to keep walking forward
> Desire leads to perseverance to never give up 
> Perseverance always leads to deliverance, God stakes His reputation on this promise

So, if you find yourself in doubt, fear or worry, stop everything. Get into the Word of God. 

Here's the promise.

Mark 4:20 NIV -  Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Keep the blessings flowing abundantly!

-Gerald