2013

Unanswered Prayer. Is there such a thing?

Kah Wor Enjoying the Bible

Table of Contents
Foreword Christianity Unanswered Prayer I Love You Its Personal Disobedience and Sin Contentment Command and Control Who Knows Better Gods Grace Conclusion Note from Author

Foreword
I am a Christian beginning to realize that God is my loving Father in heaven as proven by the death of His only Beloved Son as Jesus the Christ. In the unfolding pages, all negative connotations have been made in reference to me. I do not speak for or of others. This is a result of personal experiences and observations. This is by no means a sermon of any sort nor does it serve to generalize the Christian experience. I am no Bible teacher or pastor. I am the beloved child of God getting to know (as a privilege) Him as a loving Father. If you have been blessed by this e-book, let all the glory and praise redound to my loving Father in heaven in Jesus Name. If you find anything amiss, let God judge my heart.

Christianity
If Christianity is only about numbers and miracles, then the whole world is Christianized. The experts of scriptures in Jesus day searched the scriptures diligently. Jesus the Man was fulfilling every prophesy that spoke of Him and yet they did not recognize Him. Instead, they asked for signs and wonders to authenticate His identity as the Promised Messiah. [John 5:36-44 , John 6:29-30, John 2:18 ]. As it was, so it is now. Today, I am persuaded and convicted by Gods love for me based solely on the Cross. All of the signs and wonders performed by Jesus during His earthly ministry pointed to the love of God. They served to confirm Gods love for the world. This confirmation culminated in the crucifixion of Jesus as the ultimate and conclusive proof of Gods love for the world. [John 3:16, Romans 5:8.]. Looking away from all that distracts to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith. Obsessions with physical blessings can be a form of distraction. [Hebrews 12:2]. Faith is trust. It is trusting in Gods love for me. God sent His only Beloved Son to die on the Cross as Jesus the Man to prove His love for me. When this love is being established in my heart, circumstances, whether good or bad have no part in the equation of Gods love for me.

If I look for proof of Gods love for me in physical blessings, then I am standing on very shaky grounds. The Church or the called out ones are built not on blessings. It is firmly built on the conviction of Jesus as the Beloved Son of the living God Who died on the Cross as proof of Gods love. [Matthew 16:1518]. This is the reason the Apostle Paul resolved to know nothing except Christ crucified. [1 Corinthians 2:2].

Unanswered Prayer
Is there such a thing as an unanswered prayer? All my prayers are answered. [1 John 5:13-15]. Jesus the Christ has made me the righteousness of God. [2 Corinthians 5:21]. The prayer of the righteous availeth much. [James 5:16]. To state the obvious, Gods answer is either a yes or a no. When I get what I prayed for, the answer is yes. When I dont, the answer is no. Unfortunately, I praise God only for the former but lament over the latter. When God answers my prayers, it is only polite of me to thank Him, whether His answer is yes or no. My problem is that I just wont take no for an answer. My natural response is this, My dearest loving Father in heaven, I am your beloved child, why have You not answered my prayer? I am deaf to His reply, My beloved child, I just told you its a no.

Then I thought to myself, Perhaps I have not prayed hard enough. Maybe I should devote more time to Bible reading. I think I did not tithe regularly. I must buy more Christian books and sermon DVDs. Oh I know, I did not attend Church. Oh gosh, I did not fast! Worst still, I did not serve in Church! All of these may well be a string of actions aimed at getting God to give me what I want. It is really throwing tantrums in disguise. Dont get me wrong. There is a place for all that. But the motivation cannot be to blackmail God. He cannot be mocked. [Galatians 6:7]. He weights the heart. [Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 21:2 ]. God will never withhold any good thing from me when I asked of Him. [Luke 11:13]. In His time, He makes all things beautiful. [Ecclesiastes 3:11]. His blessings add no sorrows. [Proverbs 10:22]. His perfect timing is impeccable. Inwardly, I retort, How can what I prayed for not be good? It is something I know to be good and will glorify God. Who knows best? Eve also thought that the fruit of the forbidden tree looked good and was desirable to make her wise. [Genesis 3:6]. How can you say that ?!? I am not a sinner anymore! God has given me a new heart by and through the death of His only Beloved Son on the Cross. All of my sins have been completely and permanently forgiven and removed for all eternity! I can have all that my heart desires. You are just so sin conscious! You are anti-Christ! Away from me you devil! You are under law! I am under grace. Sin shall not have dominion over me! I rebuke you in Jesus mighty name!

God sent His only Beloved Son to die on the Cross to show and prove His love for me. [Romans 5:8]. This is so that I can place my trust in Him and flow with His wonderful plans for me at every station of every stage of my life. [Jeremiah 29:11]. When Adam and Eve chose to eat from the forbidden tree, sin was not yet present. [Romans 5:12, 19]. They were not sinners. They became one as an aftermath of that decision. They did not have the privilege of Gods love for them personified. I do! As a matter of truth, I am the object of Gods undivided tender loving care and concern. [Luke 12:7]. He is gracious toward me because He loved me from before antiquity all the way through to eternity. His only Beloved Son made manifest was radical grace on His part. So, I let go of my stubborn insistence to have things my way. I let Gods loving plans for me unfold according to His time table. The Cross is the ultimate and conclusive proof of Gods love for me. A personal acceptance and conviction of that loving proof gives rest to my mind, heart and soul. With that rest, I begin to realize just how gracious God has been all this while. When I was just a loving idea in His mind, I was already under grace. I did not and could not do anything to earn, deserve or merit that. God gives me grace because He loves me. The Cross is the proof. When Gods love for me settles and establishes in my heart, I begin to see that God has been raining unearned, unmerited and undeserved favours in my life all this while. Being contended with what God has given me at every moment of my life is an abundant gain. [1 Timothy 6:6].

You are saying all these things because you are not experiencing the good things. You are just being a sour grape. Look at what God is doing in the lives of other Christians. You dont have them because you place yourself under law! James 3:16, For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.

I Love You
Papa or Mummy. Every parent yearns to hear their baby child utter those very first words. It is the most melodious of sounds. From then on, every parent would long for their child to understand this basic sentence, I love you. So it is with my loving Father in heaven. From the moment I accept the proof of His love for me by the death of His only Beloved Son, He wants me to experience His love for me. He wants me to know for myself, God loves me. My loving Father in heaven has framed the basic sentence structure to convey this simple message of His love. The basic sentence structure is: Subject, Verb, Object. God [Subject] loves [verb] me [Object]. Verb is an action. The subject is the one doing the action. The object is the one receiving the action. God loves me. [John 16:27]. I am the object of His love. [John 16:27]. I am subject to His love. The word subject as an adjective means: 1. Being under domination, control, or influence, 2. Being under dominion, rule, or authority, as of a sovereign state or some governing power, 3. Open or exposed to,

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4. Being dependent on something, 5. Being under the necessity of undergoing something. Adjective is a describing word. It describes a noun. A noun is a place, thing, people or an idea. Hence, as the subject of Gods love, I am all of the above definition of the word subject as an adjective. Therein lies my challenge as Gods beloved child. I have been living my life for so long without God. I have become so accustomed to making decisions and choices for myself. It is a paradigm shift. It is like having to brush my teeth with my left hand after having done so with my right for donkey years. It feels awkward and uncomfortable in the beginning. I am learning to get used to this new life. It entails letting go of the control over my life and flowing with His wonderful plans for me [Jeremiah 29:11]. He is the lover. I am the loved or beloved. He is the care-taker. He is taking care of me. He is the Shepherd. I am the sheep. He is my Father. I am His beloved child. He is the Trusted. I am the trustee.

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Its Personal
When I accept the proof of Gods love for me [Romans 5:8] by confessing Jesus the Christ as my Lord, I am claiming ownership of that love. I am taking it personal. God loves me! From that moment, I begin to live my life forward as the beloved child of God, the Creator of the entire cosmos. From then on, I begin to get to know God as my loving Father. He Who Himself tenderly loves me. [John 16:27]. I embark on an exciting journey of learning to live this new life as His beloved child. [Romans 12:1-2]. It is exhilarating! This is the reason the Apostle Paul called The Gospel, My Gospel. [Romans 2:16]. He took possession of it. He saw It for himself to call the Gospel his own. He made it personal. He lived the Gospel. I follow Jesus. What does it mean by follow Jesus? He is the expert in managing my life. He knows best. I therefore follow Him. He knows what is truly best for me. I dont. I have no inkling idea. I am a blind deer; no idea (no eye deer)! I am lost. He is not. He leads. I follow. Only He alone knows best what is best for me to have and when is the best time for me to have. Only He has my best interest at heart, more so than me. He is doing everything He knows and within His power to give me the

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best at the best time. In His time, He makes all things beautiful. He is the best manager of my life! Flow with the rhythm of His grace. Learn the unforced rhythm of His grace. [Matthew 11:28-30]. His rhythm is gonna get me! Lord Jesus, you only. Only you! Whatever situation I may be in right now, I do what He has placed in my hands to do, the best I know how. I do whatever I can, the best I can. Thereafter, I leave it to Him to make all the necessary alignments. [Ephesians 6:13]. Hence, I acknowledge or thank Him for having my best interest at heart. I am grateful to Him for allowing whatever may be happening in my life. For this is how He directs and makes straight and plain my paths. [Proverbs 3:6]. He leads me in the paths of righteousness (my life as Gods beloved child) in His Names sake (the name of Gods love for me, Jesus). [Psalm 23:3]. That is what the Name Jesus stands for, Gods great and everlasting love for me! When what I expect or hope to happen does not come true, I thank Him for it. I do not want to go through all the unnecessary pains and sorrows only to realize that it is actually better for me not to have what I want in the first place. I submit to His panoramic view. I know mine is at best narrowly linear. My loving Father made wonderful plans for me when I was just an idea in His loving mind. [Jeremiah 29:11]. I just have to flow with them. Dont try to be a smart aleck by thinking that I know better than Him.

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His thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are His ways my ways. For as heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than my ways and His thoughts than my thoughts. [Isaiah 55:8-9]. I cannot continue to do things my way! Havent I learnt?!? [Romans 6:21]. God loves me or looks after me according to His love for me. [Philippians 4:19]. It is according to and not out of. The former speaks of all that He has. The latter refers to only a part. Romans 8:32, AMP, He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? The death of Gods only beloved Son as Jesus the Man is the concrete and conclusive proof that God loves me with the best of all He has. The death of His Son is the reason I can have a new heart to submit to His wonderful plans in His perfect time. [Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 24:7] My heart is renewed when it is being progressively persuaded by the proof of Gods love for me. [Romans 5:8]. Hence, I am Gods work-in-progress. [Philippians 1:6]. This is so that I will submit to His wonderful plans in His impeccable timing. It is a new spirit of His love for me that will enable to stand my ground, to resist the temptation to get whatever I want, whenever I want, against Gods better wisdom. [Ephesians 6:11]. To do whatever my heart desires is the very reason for the fall.

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But that was before the Cross. After the Cross, my heart is renewed. God has given me a new heart! I can follow whatever it desires. Jeremiah 17:9 was also before the Cross. After the Cross my heart is no longer deceitful. I reasoned. I beg to differ. Once again, I submit to you that the death of Gods only Beloved Son is to enable my heart to trust in Gods love for me. God gave up His only Beloved Son to convince me that He can be trusted. Through and by His Sons death, He is appealing to me to let go of what I think is right and to submit to His perfect plans for me. [Jeremiah 29:11]. Dont insist on getting what I think is good for me to have. By all means ask God for whatever I want. But thereafter, trust in His love to grant me those requests. I rest in the assurance that He gives me only the good things. I am sure He will not give me drugs if I asked Him. But why would I ask Him for drugs? It is because I dont realize that is exactly what Im asking for. But He knows! Learn from Eves mistake. Jesus put it this way, Remember Lots wife! [Luke 17:32]. Lots wife hankered after the good things even when destruction was so imminent. [Genesis 19:26]. Genesis 3:6, AMP, And when the woman saw that the tree was
good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.

Be alert! [1 Peter 5:8]. The enemy will try to get me into trouble in the same manner he did with Adam and Eve.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. [Genesis 2:17]. I believe the adversary wants me to let

down my guard.

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Disobedience and Sin

1 Timothy 3:16, AMP, Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to Gods will in thought, purpose, and action). Recall how Adam sinned. Before the Fall, there was no sin. It was only after Adam decided to disobey God that sin entered the world. [Romans 5:12,19]. Hence, it was not sin that caused Adam to disobey. Then what did? It was the ignorance of Gods love. It was the lack of conviction of that love. It was not being contended with what God has given and otherwise. It was coveting something over and above what is needed. It was not flowing with Gods plans. It was a stubborn insistence on having what they thought was good for them. Look at Genesis 3:6, AMP, And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.

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Now look at what Jesus said in Luke 12:15, AMP, And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a mans life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs. At the point of Genesis 3:6, sin was not even present. It was a perfect setting. Both Adam and Eve were given much more than they could ever need, they were in overflowing abundance. Yet, they coveted something that was over and above their needs. In short, they were greedy. They saw something which they thought was good for them to have. God told them it was not good for them to have. Out of His love for Adam and Eve, God forbade them to eat from the forbidden tree. Unfortunately, the first pair of human beings did not see the love of God behind His command. It was a loving restraint. Therefore, they were they were something for them. when Adam and Eve ignored Gods command, in effect rejecting His love for them. By extension, deceived into believing that God was withholding good from them. They were oblivion of Gods love

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Hence, I submit to you the following: 1. Not being convicted of Gods love for me leads to disobedience. 2. God do not give me what I want, when I want because He knows what is truly best for me. 3. Conviction of Gods love for me restrains my desires. This is the new heart. 4. To break free from those loving restraints tantamount to rejecting Gods love, a.k.a. sin. 5. Sin, rejecting Gods love, leads to miseries and death. (Read The Hideousness of Sin). That was the reason God told Adam that in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die. [Genesis 2:17]. The adversary would not let me off so easily. He will attempt to appeal against my decision to live as Gods beloved child. Every time he fails to deceive me, he will wait for other opportune moments and try again. Luke 4:13, AMP, And when the devil had ended every [the complete cycle of] temptation, he [temporarily] left Him [that is, stood off from Him] until another more opportune and favorable time. Like what he did to Adam and Eve, he will do the same to me. He will direct my attention to some good things that I do not have. He will dangle the carrots to arouse my desires with the silent insinuation that God is withholding that from me. In todays context, the evil one may even use the name of God and Jesus to dangle those same carrots. The bottom-line is to derail me from Gods wonderful plans for me.

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Genesis 3:6 reveals the very nature of human beings. Even in the most perfect settings and in the absence of sin, that desire to have what was thought to be good prevailed. To me, that is the flesh. Hence God advised me, Not by power, not by might, but by My Spirit. [Zechariah 4:6]. God is love. [1 John 4:8]. His Spirit is love. I live my life with the conviction of His love for me. Whatever He knows to be good for me, He will give me. This is because He loves me. And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate. [Genesis 3:6]. The flesh wants what it thinks is good. It looks good, it must be good. Why would God withhold that when it looks so good? The flesh is pushing God aside. It is a vote of confidence in my opinion and a veto of Gods counsel. God sent His only Beloved Son to die on the Cross as Jesus the Man to prove that He loved me that much. Since He can love me so much, I can trust Him to manage my life. God did that to get my attention. He did it to tell me that He can be trusted. Let His wonderful plans for my life unfold according to His impeccable timing. Dont make the same mistake! For the day you eat of it, you shall surely die. [Genesis 2:17]. My ground is this: God knows best what I should have, when I should have. If I do not have what I prayed for, it is only because God knows it is not good for me to have.

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If I allow the evil one to lead me on, its a matter of time I start to question Gods love for me. I will end up trying to get what I want at all cost. Yet God in all His loving Wisdom did not give me what I want because those very things would do me harm. In the day you eat of it, you shall surely die. But I feel indignant. Why cant I have what I want?!? I insist. It all boils down to rejecting Gods plan for my life. It is like a child throwing tantrums but in whatever guise it may assume. The Bible warns me against craving for money and riches. I Timothy 6:9, AMP, But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing. Proverbs 28:20, NKJV, A faithful man (one who trusts in Gods loving plans for him) will abound with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished (ones own cravings for riches result in ruins, destruction and miseries). Proverbs 28:22, NKJV, A man with an evil eye (one who perceives God to be withholding what is desired) hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him. NB: Italics in bold added by me. Matthew 6:24, NKJV, No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

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1 Timothy 6:10, NKJV, For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. And now the punch line, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve. [Luke 4:5-8, NKJV]. To worship God is to sing praises of His love for me (see section on Worship God). To serve God is to be subject to Him. Recall the word subject as an adjective means: 1. Being under domination, control, or influence, 2. Being under dominion, rule, or authority, as of a sovereign state or some governing power, 3. Open or exposed to, 4. Being dependent on something, 5. Being under the necessity of undergoing something. I am subject to Gods love for me. Therefore, I humbly accept all that is happening in my life as part of His loving plans for me. My safeguard against any manipulation is to accept whatever earthly lot that God has given to me at every station in every stage of my life. In short, contentment. If God do not give me what I ask of Him, it is only because what I asked is not good for me to have. Period!

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Philippians 4:7, AMP, And Gods peace [shall be yours,

that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 7:11, AMP, If you then, evil as you are, know how to give
good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!

This is my perspective of Matthew 7:11 from another angle, If I, evil as I am, know that I must not give drugs to my children when they ask, how much more will my Father in heaven not give me the things I ask when He knows those things will destroy me? If I read Matthew 7:11 or Romans 8:32 as God giving me anything I ask for based on my perception of good, it is a matter of time that I will get angry with Him or find myself susceptible to all sorts of manipulations. I ask my Father God for anything and everything. Thereafter, I rest in His Sovereign love for me to give me only those things that He alone knows are truly good for me. That entails not having what I think is good for me to have. The Apostle Paul learnt how to be contended. Philippians 4:11, AMP, Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have
learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. This is John 14:27

put into action! Paul was given a thorn in his flesh. He pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from him [2 Corinthians 12:8, NKJV].
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There are many schools of thoughts on his thorn of flesh. To me, it is not so important to know exactly what the thorn was. It is more important to see the purpose for which my Lord Jesus had given it to Paul and Pauls response. The Apostle Paul realized the purpose it served in his life, And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. [2 Corinthians 12:7, NKJV]. He humbly accepted Gods arrangements in his life. And what did my Lord Jesus tell Paul, And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV]. From these few passages of scriptures, I finally understood what is meant by God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. [James 4:6, Proverbs 3:34, NKJV]. I am proud when I: 1. Insist that God must give me what I want, when I want, 2. Foolishly think I can hold God ransom by repeating His promises like a broken record without accepting His Sovereign plans in my life.

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I am humble when I accept what He has given me in my life. And when I patiently wait for His plans to unfold in His time, I realize that His grace was with me all this while. Being mindful of God love for me preserves me from the adversary who operates through all sorts of manipulations. Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. [Genesis 3:1].

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Contentment
The Bible advocates contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6, AMP, [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain. The Apostle Paul learnt how to be contended. Philippians 4:11, AMP, Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. Philippians 4:7, AMP, And Gods peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Rest and peace come from being contended with what God has given me at every station of every stage in my life. If my KPIs for contentment are the same as that of the world, then something is amiss. For my Lord Jesus said, You are in the world but not of the world. [John 15:19, AMP]. My Lord Jesus said in John 14:27 that He has given and bequeathed to me His peace. He gives not as the world gives. [John 14:27, AMP].

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And again in Romans 12:2, AMP, Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Is this a hard and difficult message that is too great for me to bear? [John 6:60, AMP]. John 6:66, AMP, After this, many of His disciples drew back (returned to their old associations) and no longer accompanied Him. Will I fall away when I know that Jesus is not a talisman or ATM? 1 Timothy 4:1, AMP, But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach. You mean He is not my meal ticket for life? Gosh! 1 Timothy 6:5, AMP, And protracted wrangling and wearing discussion and perpetual friction among men who are corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, who imagine that godliness or righteousness is a source of profit [a moneymaking business, a means of livelihood]. From such withdraw.

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Command and Control

I relinquish command and control over my life. I hand over that command to the One Who is in the best position to do the job. Take a look at Solomon. All is Vanity I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity, a striving after the wind and a feeding on wind. King Solomon Ecclesiastes 1:14 I believe that final summation of life came from one who adopted self as the captain of his own life. King Solomon was not only the wisest man in the history of mankind. He was probably the wealthiest king. He started off his life with God. 1 Kings 3:7-14, AMP
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Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of David my father, and I am but a lad [in wisdom and experience]; I know not how to go out (begin) or come in (finish).
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Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who cannot be counted for multitude.
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So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people?

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It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.

God said to him, Because you have asked this and have not asked for long life or for riches, nor for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to recognize what is just and right, (from Gods perspective; i.e. Gods call. Italics added by me)
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Behold, I have done as you asked. I have given you a wise, discerning mind, so that no one before you was your equal, nor shall any arise after you equal to you.
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I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings equal to you all your days.
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And if you will go My way, keep My statutes and My commandments as your father David did, then I will lengthen your days. Alas, as Solomon grew older, his heart turned from God. 1 Kings 11:1-6, AMP But King Solomon [defiantly] loved many foreign womenthe daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.
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They were of the very nations of whom the Lord said to the Israelites, You shall not mingle with them, neither shall they mingle with you, for surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods. Yet Solomon clung to these in love.
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He had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and his wives turned away his heart from God.

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For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect (complete and whole) with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
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For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abominable idol of the Ammonites!
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Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as David his father did. It is pertinent to present the footnote to 1 Kings 11:8, AMP: What all this did to Solomons sweet fellowship with God is to be seen in Ecclesiastes. Take the sun out of the sky, and all earths beauty and fruitfulness will go also. Take God out of your sky, and lifes joys will be turned to dregs, bitterness, and futility. Solomon had deliberately chosen to live under the sun instead of under God. In the awareness of his own unquestionable greatness, he had become indifferent to the fact that here is more than Solomon (Luke 11:31) and that to scorn or ignore God is fatal. With all his wisdom he failed to recognize that God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions or by His precepts being set aside)... For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap (Galatians 6:7).

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Look also at King Hezekiah [Footnote to Isaiah 38:5]: Gods time for Hezekiah to die had come (Isa. 38:1), but he had no son. It was unthinkable to him, apparently, that he should die and leave no heir to his throne. As devout as he was, he could not trust the Lord to give His faithful servant what was best for him. So he took matters into his own hands and begged to be allowed to live on. The Lord granted his request sons were born. How immense the grief that resulted! One of his sons, Manasseh, became Hezekiahs disgraceful and ruthless successor, not for just a few years, but for fifty-five! (II Kings 21:1ff.) He undid everything reformatory that had been done, established idol worship, caused his son to go through the fire as an offering to the pagan god, defied Gods prophets, and caused the slaughter of those who opposed him (including perhaps Isaiah, his fathers best friend who, according to Jewish tradition, was sawed in half during Manassehs reign). How little Hezekiah knew of what was best for him or for Judah! How presumptuous is anyone who demands that his own short-sighted vision replace the wisdom of Gods plan for his own life or for that of others!

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Now look also at Joseph who allowed his life to flow with Gods wonderful plans for him. Neither was Joseph rich when he first walked with God. He was a slave. But he was conscious of God being with him. God with him prospered him. [Genesis 39:2, AMP]. Yet, he did not focus on getting rich. Look at his miserable thirteen years of life. His own brothers threw him into a pit because of jealousy. He ended up being sold as a slave. As a loyal and faithful servant to his master, he was framed by his masters wife for attempted rape. Consequently, he was thrown into prison but eventually he became the second in command in Egypt. [Genesis 37:2 to Genesis 41:46]. See what good came out of Josephs life when He allowed himself to flow with the wonderful plans that God had for him. Joseph learnt the unforced rhythms of grace. Matthew 11:28-30, The Message, Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and youll recover your life. Ill show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with mewatch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I wont lay anything heavy or illfitting on you. Keep company with me and youll learn to live freely and lightly. Joseph proved or experienced for himself the good and perfect plan [will] of God for him [Romans 12:2]. This is evident from what he told his brothers upon their reunion, As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day. [Genesis 50:20]. It is more honourable to look to Jesus to provide what I want in His good time, in accordance with what He knows to be the best for me to have, and when to have them. This is rest, which gives peace. The moment I walk out of this restful peace, I open myself to all sorts of unscrupulous manipulations.
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Who Knows Better?

Compare and contrast God loves me with I love me. The subject or source of that love is I. The object or recipient of that love is me. I love or look after myself with all that I have. I cover my own back. Questions: Who has more? Who knows better? Do I allow myself to let God love me or take care of me according to his infinite resources and Omniscience? Do I want to do the same based on my own limited resources and linear perspective? Do I allow God to let things happen in my life according to His panoramic view and perfect timing? Do I insist on getting what I want, whenever I want, not knowing what will happen tomorrow? What would it be? Will it be this: Step aside God! I know better than You! Would I rather it is this: Step aside me! God knows better! Who will be the captain of my life? Is it God or me!

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I Am The Captain Of My Soul

Out of the night that covers me black as the pit from pole to pole I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed

Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade and yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find me, unafraid

It matters not how strait the gate how charged with punishments the scroll I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul "Invictus," by William Earnest Henley

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Against this backdrop, I can better understand what my Lord Jesus said in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, AMP, [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world; But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied). Then the question of needs and wants arises. Does God only give me what I need but not my wants? Who would ever want something not needed? Even if that is the case, whats the big deal if it is not given? It is something not needed anyway! I get stressed and worried over those things I imagined I want. Even if I fret over them, can I make any difference? The best I may be able to manage is probably to create more problems for myself. Matthew 6:27, AMP, And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? Therefore, Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And Gods peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7].

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Jesus got my back covered! Just sit back and relax one corner knowing that God will not fail me. His integrity is at stake. And He honours His Word above all His Name. [Psalm 138:2]. He Himself tenderly loves me. [John 16:27]. He loves me too much to give me only those things that are truly good for me. It is not laziness and inertia (do nothing)! Dont get me wrong. Do what I need to do and leave all the rest to Him.

An infant can only cry when hungry. What else can this cute little fella do? He can only rely on his loving parents to provide whatever is good for him.

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Gods Grace
God has been gracious all the time. The sending of His only Beloved Son to die as Jesus the Man on the Cross is an act of radical grace on His part. He did that when I treated Him as my enemy. [Romans 5:8, Romans 5:10]. God having made me the object of His immense love is grace. I was non-existent when He first mooted the idea. I did not do anything. Neither could I have done anything. I was just an idea! That is grace! God has given me the gift of free will or choice. He honours that. [Psalm 138:2]. He wants me to exercise that gift within His loving constraints. In other words, He wants me to choose to rely solely on Him to give me those things that only He knows are truly good for me. If it seems He has withheld some things which I think are good for me, it is only because He knows they are actually not good for me. Whose opinion will I adopt? Learn from Eves mistake. Genesis 3:6, AMP, And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate.

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What I think is good, delightful and to be desired may not necessarily be good for me! Accept Gods decision. If He did not give me what I asked Him for, I can be sure it aint good for me, at least not at the time I wanted it. Unanswered prayers are an answer in and of themselves. The answer is No. Can I take it? Learn a lesson from King Hezekiah. [Isaiah 38:5].
Gods time for Hezekiah to die had come (Isa. 38:1), but he had no son. It was unthinkable to him, apparently, that he should die and leave no heir to his throne. As devout as he was, he could not trust the Lord to give His faithful servant what was best for him. So he took matters into his own hands and begged to be allowed to live on. The Lord granted his request sons were born. How immense the grief that resulted! One of his sons, Manasseh, became Hezekiahs disgraceful and ruthless successor, not for just a few years, but for fifty-five! (II Kings 21:1ff.) He undid everything reformatory that had been done, established idol worship, caused his son to go through the fire as an offering to the pagan god, defied Gods prophets, and caused the slaughter of those who opposed him (including perhaps Isaiah, his fathers best friend who, according to Jewish tradition, was sawed in half during Manassehs reign). How little Hezekiah knew of what was best for him or for Judah! How presumptuous is anyone who demands that his own short sighted vision replace the wisdom of Gods plan for his own life or for that of others!

Dont be distracted by what the fallen world has to offer. It will cost me much more than I can ever afford.

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Hebrews 12:2, AMP, Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus is the only concrete and conclusive proof of Gods love for me. He is the only reason I can place my total and complete trust in God as my loving Father. [John 16:27]. No man has ever seen God at any time. [John 1:18]. Only Jesus, the only Beloved Son of God, has seen Him. And Jesus gave this testimony of God as my loving Father: John 16:27, AMP, For the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father. A loving Father does not spoil His child by giving in to his every whim and fancy. I can throw whatever tantrums I want. His loving decision is final! If someone comes up to me and tell me to trust him with my life, I would tell him to buzz off. What do I know about him? How can he prove that I can trust him with my life? Today, God is asking me to trust Him with my life. What do I know about God? The Bible bears collaborated testimonies of different witnesses separated by a huge expanse of time. They testified to His honour and integrity.

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How do I know for sure the Bible accounts are true? God has chosen the nation of Israel to tell the world He is real. As a nation, Israel was dispersed for almost 2,500 years without having been assimilated to the point of extinction. Yet in one day, she came back as a nation on 14 May, 1948. God has promised to do this in Isaiah 66:8. Read more Here. Since Israel is real, the Biblical accounts are real. If the Biblical accounts are real, God is real. If God is real, Jesus is real. If Jesus is real, the proof of His love for me is real. The Bible speaks of tomorrow. Yet some are looking at today to authenticate what the Bible is saying about tomorrow. Even though many of the tomorrows as spoken of in the Bible have already become today, the same still question those tomorrows that have yet to become today. Many are still looking for archaeological or physical proof to authenticate Biblical accounts. To me, the nation of Israel settled it. Why should I trust God? God clearly showed and proved His love for me by sending His only Beloved Son to die for me. He did that when I was still treating Him as my enemy. [Romans 5:8,10]. His only Beloved Son as Jesus the Man said, No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. [John 15:13].

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He added in John 10:18, No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father. God did not simply just say He loves me. He proved it!

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Conclusion
As I learn to be subject to His love, I begin to submit to His Sovereign Love for me. I begin to see for myself His intended purposes behind whatever may be happening in my life. [Romans 12:2]. Even when all the odds are stacked up against me, I allow the odds to even out in Gods timing. When the dust settled, I realized I could not have asked for anything better! Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. [Philippians 4:6, AMP]. I am slowly coming to realize that when my life is at His call, I walk tall. But when it is my call, I walk small. The pieces of my life puzzle are coming together to fit into His wonderful plans for me [Romans 8:28]. In the nutshell, all prayers are answered. The answer is either a yes or a no.

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Note from Author

Anyone can interpret the scriptures in favour of an adopted stand [2 Peter 3:16]. I find that the only constant in the Bible is Gods love for me. I find the love of God is beyond any doubt the crimson thread running through the Bible from cover to cover. Therefore, I have chosen to read and interpret the Bible in the greater context of His love for me. God is love [1 John 4:8]. His Spirit is therefore love. To read the Bible in the Spirit is to read it in His love for me. This is my personal conviction. This is how I enjoy my Bible. This is my stand. When the Lord returns, He will weigh my stand according to my heart [1 Samuel 16:7]. I am the beloved child of God that Jesus the Christ has made me to be [2 Corinthians 5:21] in the process of getting to know Gods love for me. If you have been blessed by this literature, let all the glory and praise redound to our loving Father God. If there is anything you find amiss, let God judge my heart. If you would like to support the declaration of Gods great love, you can do so HERE. This has been brought to you by Enjoying the Bible. 1 Timothy 4:13, AMP, Till I come, devote yourself to [public and private] reading, to exhortation (preaching and personal appeals), and to teaching and instilling doctrine.

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