From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS...
“Why won't God give me what I ask? Why won't he answer my prayer? If only he would go ahead and kill me! If I knew he would, I would leap for joy...” (Job 6:8-10 TEV). It is evident from the Bible and life experiences that God does not answer all prayers, even those of His righteous ones! Job was a righteous man. God, Himself, testified to this when Satan tried to accuse Job (see Job 1:8; 2:3). However, God allowed Satan to tempt Job by destroying everything Job had, including his children. Satan even “inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7 NRSV). In his agony, Job prayed that God should kill him, at least to save him from all these suffering (see Job 6:8-10). God did not answer the prayer. To add insult to Job’s injury, his friends were accusing him and his dead children of wrongdoing against God. In spite of Job’s travail and the seeming silence of God to his plight, Job remained steadfast in his faith in God. He could still declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” and “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 13:15; 19:25 NIV). It was as if he knew about this God’s promise: “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP). God did bless Job in multiple folds at the end of the day. Instead of doing what seemed better to Job, God did His best for him! On many occasions, God has deliberately refused to answer the prayers of His righteous ones. These people would be bitter that God does not do what they seem good for them. It takes spiritual maturity to accept the refusal of God for one’s request especially when one is passing through unpleasant life challenges. One may think that one’s request is the best while God has a better plan than one’s best request. If God does not answer your prayers, what would you do? Would you still remain steadfast in your faith in Him? Are you ready to take His refusal for your request in anticipation for His better plan for you? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). +234 805 515 9591 http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/ http://www.facebook.com/bayo.afolaranmi Visit and become a follower of http://thewordthruthenet.blogspot.com/ I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRISTAND TO DIE IS GAIN (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV). ======================================= From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, YOU WILL SOON GET THERE! "Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5 NKJV). Life is full of many challenges and unexpected hindrances. One may be discouraged because of these challenges and difficulties of life. However, if one is resolute and depend on God, all these stumbling blocks will become a stepping stone. People that have been following my online weekly devotional messages will remember that I once said last month that I would be travelling to Mozambique for a two-week ministry-related visit. After many obstacles and delay, I was given a one-month visit visa to Mozambique. Some of my online friends contributed the money that I used to buy the return ticket for the visit and for other expenses related to the visit. I prepared for the visit and went to the airport on the planned day of my departure. I was about to be checked in at the airport when airport authorities said I could not go on the journey because I did not have a South Africa transit visa. The information I had was that I would not need a transit visa to go through South Africa, but I was made to understand that the information is outdated. The new regulation is that I must have a South Africa transit visa to go through the country. I was disappointed and embarrassed as all efforts to allow me proceed on the journey that day proved abortive. I thought I would be able to get the transit visa the following day and proceed on my journey, but getting the South Africa transit visa is not that easy. I returned home dejected, but with hope that I will still make the journey soon, especially as I can still use the bought return ticket later. My experience when I first made the attempt of applying for South Africa transit visa at the South Africa embassy in Lagos, Nigeria was so terrible. I almost abandoned the whole issue of travelling to Mozambique. However, with more determination and reliance on God, I made another attempt and that one was successful though after some difficulties. I got the transit visa and eventually travelled through South Africa to Mozambique some days ago. I am sending this message out here in Mozambique! What seemed as ordinary and simple affair became a worrisome and difficult one, but at the end, I could achieve my initial aim. What are you also striving to achieve that seems difficult to achieve? Whatever the hindrances, you will achieve your goals in life. Do not be discouraged because of the hindrances. Just be resolute. Trust in God. He will enable you to achieve those goals. You will soon get there! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor) ========================================== From: Bayo Afolaranmi Dearly Beloved, “CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS RIGHT!” “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all...” (2 Timothy 2:24 NKJV). Sequel to my wife’s abrupt disengagement from service in her workplace, we started a frozen foods business in a small shop in the front of our home. Any time she is busy in the kitchen or not at home, and I am less busy at home, I become the sales man in the shop. I have had a lot of experiences from this. There is this axiom that says, “Customers are always right!” The axiom is not true all the time, but I have learnt to apply it when I am on duty in our shop. There was a particular case when a woman came and asked for a kind of fish. There were different prices for the smaller and bigger sizes of the kind of fish she wanted. I made this known to her. She even knew before I told her, but she was undecided as to which one to buy. Probably she wanted to cheat me. She later decided to buy a kilo of chicken instead. Even at that, she was still trying to be dubious with me. I was furious within me, but I remembered that axiom, “Customers are always right!” She finally bought the kilo of chicken, but to my surprise, she wanted to buy it at a lower price to the normal price of a kilo. I politely reminded her about the normal price of a kilo of chicken, and she went away with her bought item. The lesson from this incident and the axiom is that one has to be patient and gentle in dealing with other people. It is evident that people will offend and provoke one to the extent that one may overreact, but one must always remember the teachings of the Bible that we should be “...as gentle as doves” (Matthew 10:16 TEV). Consider these verses also: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2 NIV). “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NIV). “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:14-15 NIV). No matter who you are dealing with, you have to deal with them gently, patiently, peacefully and with love. They may insult you or do any other harmful thing to you, but your heavenly Father knows how He will fight for you and reward both of you accordingly. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
